Chelsea are finalising a move for Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, 35, after permission for a medical at Stamford Bridge. He is set to join the squad in Hong Kong next week for pre-season on a two-year contract.

The signing is part of new manager Xabi Alonso's drive to add experience to the Premier League's youngest squad. Co-owner Behdad Eghbali said the recruitment model needed a "tweak" after a 10th-place finish. Chelsea have also offered to reunite Granit Xhaka, 34, with Alonso, and signed Maxence Lacroix, 26, from Crystal Palace on a six-year deal, while pursuing Jordan Henderson, 36.

Morgan Rogers, signed for a club-record £117m from Aston Villa, adds relative experience at 24. Welbeck, formerly of Manchester United and Arsenal, has 90 goals in 400 top-flight appearances and is Brighton's leading Premier League scorer. His arrival gives Chelsea six senior strikers as they build around Joao Pedro and Welbeck, with Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu potentially leaving.