Leicester City's French player Wesley Fofana

Premier League side Chelsea is close to inking a deal with Leicester City's French player Wesley Fofana.

Leicester had already rejected two bids from Chelsea for the 21-year-old, but seem to have agreed on a third offer understood to be around £75 million ($85.5 million), according to Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano, after Fofana reportedly expressed his desire to leave the club.

"Wesley Fofana to Chelsea, here we go! Documents are almost ready as Leicester and Chelsea reached an agreement on the fee on Friday, confirmed," Romano tweeted.

Wesley Fofana to Chelsea, here we go! Documents are almost ready as Leicester and Chelsea reached an agreement on the fee on Friday, confirmed. 🚨🔵 #CFC
Fofana will sign until June 2028 as new Chelsea player. Fee around £75m [add-ons included]. Time to prepare documents now. pic.twitter.com/lO31M5firj
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2022

It is noteworthy that Fofana did not participate in Leicester's last weekend's 2-1 defeat against Southampton after reportedly informing coach Brendan Rodgers that he did not wish to play.

However, Rodgers told the media that the French player was not "in the right frame of mind" to be selected for the team's formation.

"I mentioned in the week about coming into a Premier League game and maybe one or two players not being in the right frame of mind, you can’t carry them and certainly we can’t," Rodgers told NBC.

"So that’s the reason for the change," he added.

According to Romano, "Fofana will sign until June 2028 as new Chelsea player. Fee around £75m [add-ons included]. Time to prepare documents now."

The French player has appeared in just 37 games for Leicester since moving from French team Saint-Etienne.

Chelsea have already completed the signings of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Marc Cucurella and are close to signing young Russian playmaker Arsen Zakharyan.

Following Romano's announcement, renowned former footballer Gary Lineker deemed Fofana "the most prodigiously talented young central defender in the world."

Gutted to lose him but wish @Wesley_Fofanaa well. Every player wants to play @ChampionsLeague football so it’s understandable. @ChelseaFC fans, you’ve got the most prodigiously talented young central defender in the world. Yes, I believe he’s that good. https://t.co/iq1TjycLkD
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) August 27, 2022

On Twitter, the former England international striker said: "Gutted to lose him but wish Wesley Fofana well. Every player wants to play Champions League football so it’s understandable. Chelsea FC fans, you’ve got the most prodigiously talented young central defender in the world. Yes, I believe he’s that good."