Chelsea are in negotiations with Borussia Dortmund over a deal to send midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka on loan to the Signal Iduna Park, according to a report.
The 21-year-old is yet to make a name for himself at Stamford Bridge and remains on the periphery under Enzo Maresca, who has not included him in a single Premier League matchday squad this season.
Chukwuemeka has played just five times across the Conference League and EFL Cup this season, and only one of those appearances has come from the first whistle, completing 67 minutes of a 3-1 continental win over Astana.
The midfielder's lack of game time has led to the expectation that he will at least be loaned out for the second half of the campaign, and a recent report claimed that Juventus and Porto were the latest teams to express an interest.
However, Chukwuemeka could now follow the Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho path instead, as The Guardian claims that Dortmund are discussing a temporary deal for the ex-Aston Villa man.
Dortmund bidding to 'seal deal' for Chukwuemeka
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The Bundesliga giants have developed a reputation for nurturing young English talents, overseeing the rises of Bellingham and Sancho and more recently Jamie Gittens.
The report claims that Dortmund are working to push through Chukwuemeka's signing before the window slams shut, and the 21-year-old is also keen to embark on a new challenge elsewhere.
Chukwuemeka's Chelsea contract still has another three-and-a-half years left to run, but it is still unknown whether Dortmund will request an option or obligation to make his stay permanent.
Nevertheless, the German giants are seemingly making progress in their efforts to capture a player whom they have held a 'long-term admiration' for, and they will also beat Everton and West Ham United to his services.
Chelsea forked out a fee of £15.1m to bring Chukwuemeka to Stamford Bridge from Aston Villa in 2022, and the Austrian-born lynchpin has since contributed two goals and one assist in 32 matches for the Blues in all competitions.
Which other Chelsea players could leave before deadline?
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With Maresca's squad as bloated as it is, January was always going to be about the outgoings for Chelsea, who could sanction a couple more departures before the 11pm deadline in England.
Sky Sports News claims that exiled left-back Ben Chilwell is discussing a temporary transfer to Crystal Palace, who took Trevoh Chalobah on loan from Chelsea for the first half of the season before he was recalled by the Blues.
Meanwhile, centre-back Axel Disasi supposedly has the choice of either Aston Villa or Tottenham Hotspur, the latter of whom allegedly made an approach for the Frenchman earlier on Saturday.
Midfield duo Cesare Casadei and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall might also be on the move too, but fringe attackers Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix are likely to stay put.
Ben Knapton
