Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham left Dortmund for £88m
Borussia Dortmund have been urged to “make the most” of their latest wonderkid after he was backed for a big-money exit.
The German club have had a number of stars come through their system over recent years. English talent has proven particularly lucrative for Dortmund - Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham in particular shining at the Westfalenstadion.
While the pair have both exited, Dortmund have cashed in on both having earned a combined £161m from Manchester United and Real Madrid respectively. And now, 20-year-old forward Jamie Gittens is the latest to be backed for a big-money exit.
Ex-Dortmund academy coach Gary Gordon speaking to The i said about the youngster: “He’s in good hands. I worked with Nuri Sahin [Dortmund’s current manager] when he was coming through the youth ranks at the club – he knows what the club is about, he knows how important it is to nurture young players like Jamie.
“He also knows that he needs to make the most of him because these kinds of players don’t hang around for long. It won’t be long before he follows Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham out of the door. But he’s definitely at the right club. And at the right time too.”
Reading academy graduate Gittens moved to Dortmund in 2022 after spells with the academies of Reading, Chelsea and Manchester City. Injuries limited his contributions over his first few seasons.
He scored just five goals across his first three campaigns in Germany. But he has already surpassed that this term. Gittens has eight goals to his name - his latest being a stunning effort against Bayern Munich - as well as four assists. Dortmund boss Nuri Sahin was full of praise for the winger for his performance.
Jamie Gittens has been in brilliant form for Borussia Dortmund this season
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He said: "You need 1-on-1 players who have speed. He's maturing in his game. We talk a lot about risk and reward. When do I go into the 1-on-1, when do I prepare for it? When he gets rolling, he's a fantastic player. He's also made huge strides defensively.”
Gittens has already been linked with a move to the Premier League amid his brilliant performances. Sky in Germany recently suggested that Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham were among the sides tracking him, while it was suggested that talks over a deal had already been held. Gittens, an England under-21 international, is under contract until the summer of 2028.
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