Chelsea are currently prioritizing a move for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, reportedly favoring a £50 million bid for the England Under-21 international over making a permanent signing of Jadon Sancho from Manchester United. The Blues are keen to bolster their attacking options ahead of the upcoming Club World Cup, specifically seeking a right-footed winger who can operate effectively on the left flank.
Chelsea’s interest in Gittens reflects their desire to find a player who fits well into manager Enzo Maresca’s tactical system, which relies heavily on quality wide players. Talks have been ongoing with Dortmund regarding Gittens, who has impressed with 12 goals in 48 appearances last season. His ability to play in the same position as Sancho and his relative youth make him an attractive option for Chelsea as they look to strengthen their squad.
Jadon Sancho, who joined Chelsea on loan with an obligation to buy for £25 million last summer, has had an inconsistent season. Although he demonstrated moments of quality, including scoring in the Uefa Conference League final win against Real Betis, Sancho struggled to secure a regular starting place. His time at Manchester United had already been challenging, marked by inconsistent performances and a difficult relationship with former United manager Erik ten Hag.
Chelsea are reportedly hesitant about fully committing to Sancho, despite recognizing his talent and appreciating his professional attitude. The club is considering exercising an option to pay a £5 million exit fee to terminate the agreement with United. There remains a chance that Sancho could stay if he agrees to a reduced salary that aligns with Chelsea’s wage structure, but the club appears to be leaning towards moving on.
Sancho’s potential return to Manchester United would leave the player in a complicated situation. Having fallen out of favor at Old Trafford, lost his place in the England squad, and endured a turbulent four years, his future remains uncertain. United themselves are undergoing a squad overhaul after missing out on European qualification, looking to offload players who no longer fit into the club’s plans.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are pursuing other attacking targets. Aside from Gittens, they have tracked Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, although his likely high price could be a deterrent. Earlier in the year, Chelsea showed interest in Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, but concerns about his attitude have cooled that pursuit. The Blues have also been linked with RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, indicating their intention to strengthen wide positions with versatile and promising talent.
Chelsea’s transfer activity is not limited to wide players. They have already agreed to sign Ipswich striker Liam Delap for £30 million and continue to explore options for additional forwards. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is on their radar, but the £84 million asking price makes the deal unlikely. They also have a long-term interest in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, a target also pursued by Arsenal. The arrival of new strikers could put existing forwards like Nicolas Jackson in a precarious position.
Defensively, Chelsea are also preparing for changes. The club is seeking a new center-back after securing Champions League qualification and winning the Uefa Conference League. Some defenders, including Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, and Wesley Fofana, are expected to move on, partly due to fitness concerns or falling out of favor. In goal, both Robert Sánchez and Djordje Petrovic are reportedly available for transfer.
Chelsea’s midfield is also in flux, with players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Lesley Ugochukwu available after limited impact. Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling, despite having two years left on his lucrative contract, has no future at Stamford Bridge following an underwhelming loan spell at Arsenal.
Overall, Chelsea’s summer transfer window looks set to be busy, with key decisions to be made on Jadon Sancho’s future and a strong focus on bringing in fresh talent to strengthen the squad across multiple positions. The club aims to build on their recent success in Europe and prepare a competitive squad for the demands of the new season.
