Mohamed Salah: Chelsea agree deal to sign Basel midfielder

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Egypt midfielder Mohamed Salah from Swiss champions Basel for a fee in the region of £11m.

Salah, 21, is yet to undergo a medical or agree personal terms, but is expected to move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's Premier League rivals Liverpool had held talks with Basel with hope of making Salah their first signing of the January transfer window.

The Blues agreed to sell Juan Mata to Manchester United on Wednesday.

United's club-record £37m move for Mata appears to have encouraged Chelsea to move swiftly for Salah, who would become their third signing of the January transfer window after the arrivals of Nemanja Matic and Bertrand Traore.

His potential capture will also offer Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho a further attacking option, following Kevin De Bruyne's loan move to Wolfsburg.

- BBC.co.uk