'There will be more' - Chelsea transfer bid could become saga due to club's patient stance

Chelsea are at risk of their bid to sign an attacker being drawn out across the summer unless they are willing to pay up. The Blues have a big summer ahead, and a very busy one, too.

the FIFA Club World Cup kicks off this weekend, and Chelsea begin their campaign on Monday, at which point the special early transfer window will be closed, restricting any signings from becoming official until later in the summer.

Chelsea have locked down Liam Delap, and they are hoping to sign Mike Maignan from AC Milan before the window shuts. Their other summer signings are likely to wait until later in the summer, with big-money deals always taking more time to wrap up.

One of the deals the Blues are said to be interested in is Jamie Gittens, with the Borussia Dortmund talent reportedly at the top of their winger wishlist. The 20-year-old didn’t have the best of seasons in the campaign just gone, but already an experienced player at a high level despite his youth, he is an obvious talent.

Chelsea are in need of a winger, and it appears as though Gittens is the number one target amid talk of an early bid from the Blues. According to a report from The Athletic, Chelsea have come up short with their offer, and Dortmund are not in a rush to sell because of one key factor.

The report read: “Chelsea have had a bid rejected by Borussia Dortmund for Jamie Gittens, but significantly, agreed terms with the winger over a seven-year contract. Borussia Dortmund value the 20-year-old at £50m, but that is above Chelsea’s valuation for a player who does not fit into Niko Kovac’s preferred style of play.

“The Bundesliga club believe there will be more competition for Gittens’ signature later in the summer, which is why they have hopes of getting a higher sum. However, Chelsea do not see how this can be the case if he does not start regularly at the Club World Cup.”

It’s unclear what Gittens’ stance on a move is, but it’s likely money will talk this summer, with Chelsea likely to offer him not only a return to England but a serious pay rise. The winger is not likely to push for a move, though, and this is a saga that is likely to take weeks - at the very least - to resolve.

If not Gittens, who else?

The issue for Chelsea is the lack of other targets out wide. Nico Williams is the obvious one, but it’s going to be tricky to land him due to a number of factors. Williams’ release clause has to be paid in full, and there is now talk that Athletic Club are offering him a new contract. Williams is happy where he is and he is not going to force a move, while there is also talk that he would prefer to stay in Spain if he does move. In terms of wages, it’s likely to be a very expensive move to pull off.

There aren’t too many other options at this stage, with Leroy Sané potentially available on a free transfer but Chelsea don’t appear to be particularly involved in that saga. The Blues need elite players with potential to grow, fitting their current transfer strategy, and that limits the list of potential targets.

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