Monday evening sees Chelsea get their FIFA Club World Cup campaign under way as the Blues go head-to-head with Los Angeles FC in Atlanta.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium plays host as Chelsea start the end of their lengthy 2024/25 season - one that has seen Enzo Maresca take the Blues back to the Champions League as well as lift the Conference League trophy in his debut campaign as head coach. Winning the Club World Cup would put the icing on the proverbial cake for Chelsea and Maresca.
And while that is significant for the club, especially with the £97million prize fund for the winners of the revamped competition in the United States, it is also imperative the Blues get everything right off the pitch. The summer transfer window reopens on Monday, the same day as Chelsea's opening match of the tournament, and it is set to start an extremely busy period for the club behind the scenes.
football.londonunderstands Chelsea remain interested in Jamie Gittens and want to bring the 20-year-old winger to the club this summer. Chelsea were trying to bring Borussia Dortmund star to Stamford Bridge in time for the Club World Cup. However, Dortmund refused to budge when asking for £50million for his services, with the Blues' £42million offer turned down by the Germans.
Gittens has been included in the Black and Yellow's Club World Cup squad meaning he is now cup-tied if Chelsea were to sign him before the competition concludes. This will not deter the west London club, though, with the Blues wanting to sign him for the long term.
Chelsea are looking to add a new left winger to their ranks following the departure of Jadon Sancho earlier in the month. With Mykhailo Mudryk suspended still, the Blues are short of options on the left-hand side. Gittens is the main target but Alejandro Garnacho remains on the club's radar this summer, football.london understands.
Xavi Simons is also on the club's radar, sources have told football.london, though nothing is advanced on that front. Simons is someone the club have been aware of for quite a while now and with reports stating he wants to leave RB Leipzig this summer, it could be one to watch as the transfer window progresses.
Elsewhere, the Blues will allow the likes of Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. Felix left on loan in the January transfer window, while Nkunku was keen to do the same before Chelsea blocked him leaving. However, the club are now more open to allowing the Frenchman to depart.
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Club World Cup on DAZN
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The FIFA Club World Cup will see 32 of the world's best club teams including Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG andBayern Munich play across 63 games from June 14-July 13.
Fans can watch every match live and for free by signing up to DAZN.