Kehl has provided another updateplaceholder image
Kehl has provided another update | Getty Images
Borussia Dortmund chief Sebastian Kehl has provided an update on a player Chelsea want to sign.
Borussia Dortmund chief Sebastian Kehl has again spoken out amid Chelsea’s pursuit of winger Jamie Gittens. The Blues have already held conversations with the German club as they look to wrap up a winger signing.
Gittens has become the clear priority as Chelsea look to stick to their current transfer strategy, which revolves around signing young players who can grow in ability and valuation. Already a first-team regular at 20 years of age, Gittens it the perfect candidate, but his value is not lost on his current club Dortmund.
Dortmund are said to be asking for £55million to sell their talented youngster, while Chelsea’s bids are only said to have gone as high as £42million, putting them some way off reaching the valuation. Having missed the chance to do a deal in the early window, Chelsea went to the FIFA Club World Cup without a new winger, and Gittens is competing with Dortmund.
Speaking from the United States, Dortmund chief Kehl has now provided a fresh update, saying: “We’ve had one or two conversations with Jamie in the last few days. He’s professional enough to know he has to perform. That’s also in his nature. Jamie will still be very important for us in this tournament. We’ll see what happens after that. But I don’t have a negative opinion of him.”
Kehl has previously said of negotiations: “In the end, we didn't come to an agreement because we have different ideas about the player's current value. But the talks were very, very respectful. We have been in very good dialogue with Chelsea for many years. We are happy Jamie will now be part of our team at the Club World Cup and are delighted he is staying.
"I'm not responsible for the late offer - but, of course, I still have to deal with it and that's what we've done. We looked into it very seriously, but in the end we also made a decision for ourselves. It's still absolutely OK that Chelsea made this attempt. And, once again, we are in good dialogue. Let's see how things develop in the future."
Gittens’ game time
Gittens scored 12 times and provided five assists across all competitions last season, although he only started 21 league games, regularly coming off the ench. Speaking about that factor in November, he said: “Yes, it has been an okay start. I think I’ve been playing okay.
“Not the best at times but I’m not starting so many games back-to-back like this so for me, it is an experience also to play every game from the start. I’ve been enjoying it, you know, the journey. Its definitely not easy to do this every week, every three days but I am getting used to it now, so I just need to keep performing." At just 20 years of age, it’s no surprise that Gittens isn’t starting ever single game, and he will be happy with 32 appearances from 38 Bundesliga games as he continues to develop. The question will be whether the Blues plan to offer his much game time, though reports suggest he is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.
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