Chelsea are looking to bring Jamie Gittens to Stamford Bridge before the FIFA Club World Cup begins later this month, football.london understands.
The Blues explored a deal to sign the 20-year-old winger in the January transfer window but decided against it, with Enzo Maresca happy with his squad at the time. Chelsea were assessing their options for a new left winger five months ago following Mykhailo Mudryk’s suspension for failing a drugs test in December.
Now, with Mudryk still suspended and his future at the club uncertain, football.london understands Gittens remains on the Blues’ radar and talks with Borussia Dortmund have started. Chelsea are hoping to get their main pieces of business done before the Club World Cup begins later this month, with Liam Delap set to join from Ipswich Town after completing part of his medical on Monday.
Even though Jadon Sancho is looking increasingly likely to sign a permanent deal at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are still looking to add another left-sided winger, which would essentially leave them with at least two options on either side. Sancho and Gittens – if signed – on the left, with Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke on the right. Plus, of course, Estevao Willian, who will join Chelsea this summer.
Neto, who signed for £54million almost 12 months ago, has often been used on the left wing this season but Maresca has made it clear on multiple occasions that he feels the Portugal international performs better on the right-hand side. Madueke, too, has been used on the left in recent matches but the majority of his Chelsea career has seen the England winger deployed from the right.
Joe Shields, Chelsea’s co-director or recruitment and talent, brought Gittens to Manchester City during his time with the club. The English wide man was just 14-years-old at the time and he spent a couple of years in Manchester before Borussia Dortmund pounced. Since then, he has not looked back.
Since moving to the Black and Yellow, Gittens has made over 100 senior appearances – scoring 17 goals and providing 14 assists in all competitions; an average of a direct goal contribution once in just over three games. A speedy, direct winger with incredible dribbling skills, Gittens seems to be the perfect fit for Maresca’s style of play.
Gittens has also improved his game defensively as well – something we all know Maresca looks for in a winger. Former Dortmund head coach Nuri Sahin said this on Gittens during his spell in charge at Signal Iduna Park: “You need one-on-one players who have speed. He is maturing his game. We talk a lot about risk and reward. When do I go one-on-one, when do I prepare for it? When he gets rolling, he is a fantastic player. He has also made huge strides defensively.”
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