Chelsea remain interested in signing Jamie Gittens this summer and are looking to wrap up a deal for the England Under-21 international before this month’s FIFA Club World Cup.
The Blues explored a deal to sign Gittens in the January transfer window, with a left-sided winger very much on the club’s radar. The likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Mathys Tel were also of interest to Chelsea, but the west Londoners ended up signing just the one player in Mathis Amougou over the course of the mid-season window.
There was contact with Gittens’ entourage in January, though, with Chelsea very much putting out the feelers ahead of this summer, football.london understands. Chelsea are looking to get their main pieces of business done before the Club World Cup later in the month, with Liam Delap set to join from Ipswich Town after completing the first part of his medical at Cobham on Sunday.
Chelsea are currently in talks with Jadon Sancho over personal terms after deciding to take up the £25million clause in his loan contract to make his stay at Stamford Bridge permanent. The 25-year-old winger, who spent the season on loan from Manchester United, had an up and down spell with the Blues but ended it on a high after scoring the third goal in the 4-1 Conference League final victory over Real Betis last week.
Sancho is expected to be an option on the left wing next season, although the future of Mykhailo Mudryk remains uncertain. The Ukraine international is still provisionally suspended from football after failing a drugs test back in December. Both Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke have been used on the left side, but Enzo Maresca sees them as right wingers instead.
Elsewhere, Chelsea are still in the market for a central defender, football.london understands. There are several names on the club’s radar, including the likes of Jorrel Hato, Jarrad Branthwaite, Marc Guehi, Ousmane Diomande, Murillo and Tomas Araujo. Chelsea were keen on signing Dean Huijsen but the Spain international has since moved to Real Madrid.
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