Borussia Dortmund will reportedly have the option to buy Chelsea's Carney Chukwuemeka following the end of his imminent loan deal to the German giants.
News broke this morning that Dortmund were closing in on the loan signing of the 21-year-old, who has featured sporadically for the Blues this season under Enzo Maresca.
Chukwuemeka has made just one start, away to Astana in the Conference League when Maresca took a 'C' side out to Kazakhstan.
The young midfielder has made another three substitute appearances in Europe, as well as a brief cameo against Barrow in the EFL Cup, with none of his minutes coming in the Premier League so far this season.
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Details of Chukwuemeka loan move revealed
Given the lack of opportunities afforded to Chukwuemeka, he is now all set for a move to Dortmund, with Ben Jacobs revealing the first part of his medical has been completed.
The Athletic claim that Chukwuemeka will join on a six-month loan deal, paying £2m up front, and there is an option-to-buy clause inserted in the contract.
Dortmund are to cover 100% of the midfielder's wages throughout the loan spell, which is quite significant, given that it is rumoured Chukwuemeka earns over £100,000-per-week at Stamford Bridge.
An instant impact will be required if Dortmund are to activate that option-to-buy clause, though, because Fabrizio Romano claims that they will need to part ways with €40m (£33m) to make it permanent.
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Can Chukwuemeka emulate Bellingham, Sancho?
Chukwuemeka will join at a time where another young English talent is performing out of his skin at Westfalenstadion.
Jamie Gittens has been the shining light during a difficult campaign for BVB, already reaching double figures for goals, despite playing as wing-back frequently.
Four of those goals have come in the Champions League, where Dortmund will play Sporting Lisbon in the knockout playoffs later this month, offering Chukwuemeka the opportunity to showcase his skills on the biggest stage, like Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho did at the club.
With both of those players earning big-money moves to European giants, and Gittens next in the pipeline to do so, Chukwuemeka will hope he can be another example of an English player finding his feet with the German giants.
Andrew Delaney
