Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea were scouting Renato Veiga for months before completing a shock deal for the Portugal under-20 international.

Romano announced on Friday that Chelsea had agreed a deal worth EUR14m with Swiss side FC Basel to sign Veiga, who is somewhat of a utility player given he can play left back, centre back and midfield.

If everything goes to plan Veiga will become Chelsea's sixth summer signing after Tosin Adarabioyo, Estevao Willian, Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Chelsea scouted Veiga for months The news certainly came as a surprise given there had been no links in the media to Veiga , who only joined FC Basel last summer.

Chelsea have been looking for a left footed defender, and had been linked with Riccardo Calafiori, but never made a bid, with the Italian looking likley to join rivals Arsenal.

Not many have heard of Veiga, but Romano reports that the Blues had been scouting him for months before closing the deal.

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Veiga. "Chelsea scouted Renato Veiga for months before closing the deal on Friday, and they believe his value is way higher than the PS11.8 million transfer fee," he said on his YouTube channel.

"He will start working under Enzo Maresca in the pre-season. Long contract until 2032."

The Athletic report that Enzo Maresca was looking for a player who can play left back and is comfortable inverting into midfield with Veiga ticking those boxes.

More Stories / Latest News Whether he will be part of the first team squad straight away remains to be seen and like others he will be assessed on the pre-season tour of America later this month.

The signing will raise further questions over the future of Ben Chilwell, who on the face of it does't fit the way Maresca is looking to play, and Chelsea will need to move on one or two players in the defensive areas to make room for the 20-year-old in the squad.