Chelsea have had a £55 million bid accepted by Borussia Dortmund for winger Jamie Gittens, with the 20-year-old now poised to undergo a medical at Stamford Bridge.
The English winger, who has agreed a seven-year deal with the Premier League club earlier this month, was identified as Chelsea’s primary target to replace Jadon Sancho. Sancho returned to Manchester United following the end of his loan spell, which cost Chelsea a £5 million penalty.
Borussia Dortmund had previously rejected a £42 million approach for Gittens on 10 June, holding out for closer to £60 million. Gittens will not be eligible to feature in the ongoing Club World Cup campaign for Chelsea, having already played in the tournament for Dortmund.
Chelsea’s transfer activity continues at pace this summer, with Gittens set to become the club’s fourth signing. He follows the arrivals of striker Liam Delap, midfielder Dario Essugo, and defender Mamadou Sarr. Midfielder Andrey Santos has also returned to the squad after his loan stint at Strasbourg.
Mykhailo Mudryk remains provisionally suspended after being charged by the Football Association for an anti-doping violation, having failed a drugs test.
Elsewhere, 18-year-old Estevão Willian is also due to join Chelsea following his Club World Cup duties with Palmeiras.
The Blues are now expected to shift focus to signing a versatile forward. Brighton’s Joao Pedro is among the players under consideration, although the Seagulls have already rejected two bids from Premier League rivals, with Newcastle understood to be among them.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike and West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus are also admired by Chelsea, while the club has not ruled out bringing in another defender before the window closes.