Chelsea have started talks with Borussia Dortmund that will cost the London club dearly.
Although the winner’s window has just closed again, Chelsea have reportedly opened talks over a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Jamie Gittens. Opening price £83 million!
The 20-year-old has been a shining light in a difficult season for last year’s Champions League runners-up, who are limping in the bottom half of the Bundesliga table.
Gittens has scored 11 goals of his own and set up five more in 31 games across all competitions this season, netting seven times and providing four assists in 21 Budesliga games.
The England Under-21 international has also flexed his attacking muscles in Europe with four goals in the Champions League, including one against Real Madrid in October’s fascinating 5-2 defeat.
Dortmund have linked their stance for sale to what new manager Niko Kovac would think and whether they will miss out on European football for next season.
Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with approaches for Gittens in recent weeks, but according to the Daily Mail, it is the Blues who have made the first contact.
Manager Enzo Maresca is believed to be on the lookout for wide attackers in the summer transfer window.
Gittens represented the youth teams of Reading and Manchester City, but he left the latter on a free transfer in 2020 to join Dortmund, where he has now made 89 appearances in all competitions.
The 20-year-old has scored 16 goals and provided 14 assists for BVB since his senior debut, and he was part of England’s U19 team that won Euro 2022.
Should Chelsea bow to Dortmund’s demands and pay a whopping £83 million for Gittens, the 20-year-old would become the German club’s third most expensive sale of all time, ahead of Jadon Sancho. The 24-year-old – currently on loan to Chelsea from Manchester United with a purchase obligation – he left for £73 million in 2021.
However, the Englishman will still be behind record sales of Ousmane Dembele – who joined Barcelona for £112.5 million in 2017 – and Jude Bellingham, a £94.1 million purchase to Real Madrid in 2023.
Chelsea fans can catch a glimpse of Gittens in action when Dortmund face Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of the Champions League play-offs on Tuesday night.
