Chelsea hoping to pip Newcastle in race for Fulham’s Tosin

Defender available on a free may be first signing in Maresca eraTrevoh Chalobah understood to be Manchester United target

Chelsea are confident of beating Newcastle to the signing of the Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer.

Newcastle were leading the race for the former Manchester City defender and have been working on a deal for several weeks. But they have not been able to see off a late move from Chelsea, who are working to complete what would be the first signing of the Enzo Maresca era after offering Adarabioyo a bigger financial package than Eddie Howe’s team.