Chelsea are keeping their Premier League rivals alert with a run of eye-catching transfers ahead of Xabi Alonso’s first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have spent heavily this summer, signing Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a British record transfer fee and bringing in Atalanta full-back Marco Palestra. Geovany Quenda has already completed his move, while striker Emmanuel Emegha has been brought in from Strasbourg.

Those four players have an average age between 21 and 22, a figure that is pushed down further by the two teenage signings Chelsea have made for smaller fees this summer, but the next arrivals at the club will come from a very different bracket.

Chelsea are keen to add affordable experience and leadership to the squad. And, true to their usual approach, they are now close to signing both Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck.

It was reported on Wednesday morning that Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion have agreed a deal for Welbeck, who has now been given permission to undergo a medical before completing a move to Stamford Bridge on a two-year deal.

Welbeck, who is 35, is performing strongly in the later stage of his career. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker is set to join the Blues after an excellent season in front of goal.

He scored 13 times in the Premier League – the best return of his career – but it is just as significant that he remained consistently fit and available for the Seagulls. Welbeck is being signed for his experience, but there is every chance he will play regularly, with Liam Delap struggling to nail down a place and Emegha still in the process of developing.

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Brighton will receive an undisclosed transfer fee because of the one-year contract extension he signed earlier this year, while Brentford will allow Henderson to leave the Gtech Community Stadium for free.

“England midfielder Henderson, 36, has a year left on his Brentford contract but the Bees are willing to let him leave on a free transfer,” report Nazaar Kinsella and Sami Mokbel for BBC Sport.

“Henderson made 34 appearances in all competitions for Brentford last season after joining from Ajax. He made one substitute appearance for England at the World Cup before breaking his arm falling over advertising hoardings while celebrating their last-16 win over Mexico.”

Both Henderson and Welbeck are expected to be part of Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Hong Kong.

The Blues will play Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday before meeting Juventus in Hong Kong and AC Milan in Jakarta over the next week.

Alonso will then face his first club, Real Sociedad, in his first match in charge at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s Premier League campaign begins away at Fulham on Monday, August 24.