Chelsea-linked Strasbourg cancel £13.8m Julio Enciso transfer

Julio Enciso was backed to join Chelsea next year after his move to Strasbourg (Getty)

Chelsea ’s owners have pulled out of a deal to sign Brighton ’s attacking midfielder Julio Enciso, according to reports in Paraguay.

The 21-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Ipswich Town, was due to join Ligue 1 side Strasbourg for a £13.8 million fee.

The Paraguay international then had the possibility of joining Chelsea next year, dependent on his performances in France this season.

Strasbourg and Chelsea are linked through their BlueCo ownership, led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

However, Paraguayan sources report that Enciso failed a medical on Tuesday due to concerns over a previous knee injury.

Enciso, who joined Brighton for an initial £9.5m fee three years ago, has required three separate surgeries on his left knee with the most recent operation taking place earlier this summer.

Speaking on Radio Nanduti on Tuesday evening, Paraguayan journalist Wilson Gonzalez Bronce said: ‘I’ve just received confirmation and this is now 100 per cent certain. Unfortunately, Julio Enciso’s transfer to the BlueCo ownership fell through.

Julio Enciso spent the second half of last season on loan at Ipswich Town (Getty)

‘They were going to place him first at Racing Strasbourg in French football and after a year, he had the possibility of playing for Chelsea.

‘Unfortunately, Julio Enciso did not pass the medical. They tried in the following way – usually, medical tests are only for one day, you either pass them or you don’t pass them and you’re are not signed. There are not many cases in which a professional footballer does not pass the medical.

‘Normally, it is a routine matter, but on this occasion, and due to the three operations that Julio Enciso has already had on the same knee, they had to do an extra test, which he also did not pass. Unfortunately, this took place this morning.

‘At this point, we can confirm 100% that Julio Enciso will not be signed and the Paraguayan player, the jewel of Paraguayan football, will have to stay at Brighton, a team with which he still has a contract until June next year.

‘But I insist on this, the possibility of being transferred and then playing for Chelsea has fallen through.’