Chelsea have suffered a blow in their pursuit of three summer transfer targets Jamie Gittens, Mike Maignan and Hugo Ekitike - with time running out before the Club World Cup
Chelsea are pursuing a deal for Jamie Gittens - but may run out of time
Chelsea are pursuing a deal for Jamie Gittens - but may run out of time
(Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Chelsea have seen a second offer for Jamie Gittens rejected by Borussia Dortmund - who continue to demand more money ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline.
The Blues are frantically trying to get their business done so that any new arrivals can play for them in the Club World Cup. However the German side are playing hardball when it comes to Gittens, who is the latest young English star to excel in the Bundesliga.
Chelsea 's first bid was knocked back but their latest offer was tabled at €50million (£42.8m) - but Dortmund still want an extra €5m (£4.2m) before they sanction the deal, reports the BBC. Gittens himself has made it clear that he wants a move to the Premier League side.
Personal terms won't be an issue but the west Londoners need to cough up the necessary cash if they want the winger by the time they head to the United States for this summer's tournament - where Dortmund will also be in action.
It has been a difficult few days for the Blues with their recruitment facing several setbacks. They want a new goalkeeper and Enzo Maresca is keen on landing Mike Maignan from AC Milan, where he has just a year left to run on his contract.
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The Blues are also not willing to meet the Italian's asking price of more than £20m for the French goalkeeper Maignan. Their latest proposal was for a fee of around £12m. Maignan has made it clear he wants a move to Chelsea, claims The Sun, but their refusal to budge financially means they will miss out for now.
None of the goalkeepers currently on Chelsea's books have been able to make the position their own which has led the club to look elsewhere. At the other end of the pitch, in an effort to bolster their forward line, the Blues had been eyeing Hugo Ekitike at Frankfurt.
The Blues had been looking to secure a cut-price deal for Mike Maignan
The Blues had been looking to secure a cut-price deal for Mike Maignan(Image: Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Sky Germany are now reporting that Chelsea have failed to reach a full agreement with the German club for the forward and have now given up completing a deal before the Club World Cup. Liverpool remain in the race for the French forward.
Chelsea's only major summer arrival thus far is Liam Delap, who arrived from Ipswich for £30m. Maresca was able to land the young forward despite Manchester United also being in the race. On Monday they confirmed a deal to land Mamadou Sarr from sister club Strasbourg.
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