Chelsea has agreed a transfer fee, reportedly in the $15 million range, with Swiss club Basel to acquire Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah, who has scored 17 goals in 27 appearancesfor his country.
“The move is subject to the Egyptian international agreeing personal terms and completing a medical examination,” a statement on the Chelsea’s web site announced.
Salahcould make his debut in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round game against Stoke at Stamford Bridge. Salah will become Chelsea’s third signing of the January transfer window following the arrivals ofBertrand Traore and Nemanja Matic.
Jose Mourinho was impressed with Salah by his performances for Basel in two victories over Chelsea inthis season’s UEFA Champions League group play. He scored in three of the Swiss side’s four goals in recent meetings with Chelsea — a goal in each of this season’s Champions League wins and alsonetting in the second leg of last term’s UEFA Europa League semifinal when the Blues were managed by Rafael Benitez.