Manager Mauricio Pochettino is desperate to add midfield reinforcements to his squad before the start of the new Premier League season but has so far been frustrated in the transfer market.
At the start of the summer, the Blues were beaten to the signing of Manuel Ugarte by Paris Saint-Germain while Brighton are continuing to play hardball over top target Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea were recently linked with a swoop for Adams as an alternative to the Ecuadorian, but now it appears they want both players.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the west London club’s hierarchy have made contact with Adams’ representatives and are exploring the cost of the deal.
The move for Adams is being treated separately to talks for Caicedo and the United States captain is not viewed merely as a back-up target but someone who can offer depth and competition in midfield.
Following Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League, Adams is available for just £20million – the same price he cost when he left RB Leipzig last summer.
The Daily Mail are even reporting that Chelsea’s interest has advanced to such an extent that they are ready to activate his release clause.
With just a week to go until the Blues kick off their first match of the season against Liverpool, Pochettino ideally wants at least one new midfielder in before next Sunday’s game – and any deal for Caicedo is unlikely to be completed in time.
Chelsea have a dearth of options in midfield at present, with N’Golo Kante having left on a free transfer while Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were all sold.
‘I think we’re still talking about needing an experienced midfielder, yes,’ said Pochettino last weekend when asked if the club were still pursuing a midfielder.
Adams certainly brings plenty of experience, with the 24-year-old having racked up 75 Bundesliga appearances and 14 Champions League outings prior to his season in the Premier League with Leeds. He also has 36 caps for the USA.
If Chelsea do pay up Adams’ release clause it would mark something of a departure from their usual buying strategy, with the fee needing to be paid in full whereas they normally spread the cost of transfers out over a number of years.
