Chelsea transfer priority clear as Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro and Mohammed Kudus talks held

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Evening Standard

·19 juin 2025

Chelsea transfer priority clear as Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro and Mohammed Kudus talks held

Blues also keen on Lyon winger Malick Fofana but won’t meet Hugo Ekitike’s current price tag

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Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens is intent on joining Chelsea this summer and is expected to move to Stamford Bridge if the two clubs can agree a transfer fee.

Gittens has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea, but a move was not finalised during the first summer transfer window after Dortmund rejected the Blues’ £42million bid.

The second window is now open, and Standard Sport understands that Chelsea’s priority remains Gittens, who also views Stamford Bridge as his preferred next destination.

The Blues want to add a right-footed left winger to their squad before the new season and are likely to approach Dortmund with a revised offer.

Chelsea’s recruitment team, who are in the United States for their Club World Cup campaign, remain keen on Englishman Gittens as the priority solution in that position but are aware that Dortmund value the 20-year-old at £50m.

Conversations have continued over other versatile forward targets, including Brighton’s Joao Pedro — a player Newcastle want to sign — and Mohammed Kudus of West Ham. Christopher Nkunku, who operates in similar areas of the pitch, is expected to leave.

Kudus was offered to Chelsea unexpectedly earlier this month, but there is a disparity between the clubs’ respective valuations of the player. He has a €100m (£85m) release clause for Premier League sides inserted into his contract, which is active for the first 10 days of July.

Also on Chelsea’s list of forward targets is 20-year-old Malick Fofana, though talks are not advanced. The Belgian international enjoyed a fine season at Lyon.

Chelsea’s plan to sign a right-footed left winger follows the decision not to complete a permanent deal for Jadon Sancho after his season-long loan.

The Englishman returned to Manchester United because his salary expectations were not aligned with the club’s performance-driven wage structure. The Blues had to pay a £5m fee for not meeting their contractual obligation to buy Sancho.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s £84m valuation of forward Hugo Ekitike is viewed as off-putting by a number of interested clubs, including Chelsea and Arsenal.