Speculation is still rife that Graeme Le Saux will be part of the deal, but Chelsea have offered verylittle comment about the deal, other than that a fee has been agreed.
However, Saints' chairman Rupert Lowe revealed slightly more on the club's official website: "'I regret to inform our supporters that we have today given Wayne Bridge permission to speak to Chelsea Football Club with a view to signing for them. "Wayne has quickly achieved great footballing success in his time with our Club and has served us well. He has, however, made it known to both Gordon Strachan and me that he believes a move to Chelsea to be a career progression and an opportunity he cannot turn down. "He is grateful for the tremendous support he has received from our Club, from both staff and supporters, which has undoubtedly contributed to his success. He has, however, made it clear that he wants to play Champions' League football, which he believes will give him a better chance of making him first choice for England."He will enjoy greater financial rewards at Chelsea and the club is geographically well placed for him to regularly visit his family. In the past we have rejected offers for Wayne Bridge from clubs to which he was not attracted. "He has now handed us a transfer request thereby making it difficult for us to retain him despite the fact that he still has three years remaining on his contract."
Sounds like a done deal then! But what does the future hold for Graeme Le Saux and Celestine Babayaro???