Chelsea set to win race for Brighton wonderkid Zak Sturge

Chelsea look to have won the race for Brighton's highly-rated youngster Zak Sturge, fending off competition from a host of Premier League and European rivals. 

The England Under-18 defender has confirmed he is leaving the Seagulls this summer after failing to agree a new contract and his next destination looks to be Stamford Bridge, where he will join the club's Under-23 set-up.

Sturge impressed on multiple occasions for Brighton's Under-18's last season and the Blues have pipped Tottenham and Leeds in securing the 18-year-old's signature. 

Brighton will be due a minimum of £500,000 in compensation if Sturge does finalise a move to Chelsea. The Blues still need to complete a medical for the player, but they remain hopeful that a deal for the highly-rated defender can be secured. 

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