Chelsea have reportedly opened talks over a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund attacker Jamie Gittens, whom the German giants want a staggering £83m for.
The 20-year-old has been a shining light in a difficult season for last year's Champions League runners-up, who are languishing in the bottom half of the Bundesliga table.
Gittens has struck 11 goals of his own and set up five more in 31 appearances across all competitions this season, netting seven times and providing four assists in 21 German top-flight appearances.
The England Under-21 international has also flexed his attacking muscles in Europe with four goals in the Champions League, including one against Real Madrid in October's enthralling 5-2 defeat.
Gittens's exploits have inevitably led to links with a potential Premier League move at the end of the season, especially if Dortmund - who have just hired Niko Kovac as their new boss - miss out on European football for next season.
Chelsea quoted mammoth £83m for Gittens deal?
© Imago
Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with approaches for Gittens in recent weeks, but according to the Daily Mail, it is the Blues who have made the first move.
Enzo Maresca's side are believed to be on the lookout for wide attackers in the summer transfer window, but they will have to pay a premium fee to prise Gittens away from Dortmund.
Indeed, the Bundesliga powerhouses are apparently after a fee of £83m to sell the 2004-born winger - close to €100m - as he is not due to become a free agent for another three-and-a-half years.
Gittens represented the youth teams of Reading and Manchester City, but he left the latter on a free transfer in 2020 to join Dortmund, where he has now made 89 appearances across all competitions.
The 20-year-old has scored 16 goals and provided 14 assists for BVB since his senior debut, and he was a part of the England Under-19 squad that won the European Championship in 2022.
Where would Gittens rank on list of Dortmund's record sales?
© Imago
Should Chelsea bow to Dortmund's demands and fork out the full £83m for Gittens, the 20-year-old would become the German club's third-most expensive sale of all time, ahead of Jadon Sancho.
The 24-year-old - currently on loan at Chelsea from Manchester United with an obligation to buy - left for £73m in 2021, but Gittens could leapfrog him in the club's departure charts this summer.
However, the Englishman would still be behind record sale Ousmane Dembele - who joined Barcelona for £112.5m in 2017 - and Jude Bellingham, a £94.1m purchase for Real Madrid in 2023.
Chelsea fans can catch a glimpse of Gittens in action when Dortmund face Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie on Tuesday evening.
Ben Knapton
