Leicester reject opening Chelsea bid for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Leicester City have rejected Chelsea's opening bid for midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Dewsbury-Hall, who played under current Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca at Leicester last season, emerged as a target earlier this week, with the midfielder ending talks with Brighton & Hove Albion in the hope of moving to Stamford Bridge.

According to The Telegraph, Leicester have knocked back one bid from Chelsea but talks between the clubs continue.

Leicester are known to value Dewsbury-Hall at £35m but Chelsea are looking to negotiate a deal which would see at least one player move in the opposite direction - likely in a separate deal, similar to the agreement which took Ian Maatsen to Aston Villa in place of midfielder Omari Kellyman.

Striker David Datro Fofana and midfielder Cesare Casadei are named as potential makeweights, while Leicester are among the sides interested in Armando Broja.

Elsewhere, Chelsea are inching closer to a deal to sell winger Omari Hutchinson to newly promoted Ipswich Town.

The 20-year-old, who joined on a free transfer from Arsenal in 2022, dazzled on loan with Ipswich in the Championship last season and is set to return to the club in a deal worth just over £20m.

According to BBC Sport, Arsenal hold a 15% sell-on clause and are set to pocket close to £3m.

Chelsea do not have a buy-back clause for Hutchinson but will retain a 25% share of any future sale and have also negotiated the ability to match any future bid for the young winger.