Chelsea face Brazilian side Palmeiras in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Enzo Maresca’s side finished second in Group D and required extra-time to defeat Portuguese giants Benfica in the last round, during a match that lasted more than four hours after a lengthy weather delay in the closing stages.
The Blues had looked likely to face Manchester City in the semi-finals if they progress, but Al Hilal dispatched the Citizens and it will be either the Saudi side or Fluminense awaiting Maresca’s side in the semis if they reach that stage.
In the meantime, it appears that Chelsea are set to make another addition to Maresca’s squad, and the signing won’t come cheap.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, the West London side are set to pay an initial fee of £48.5 million to sign winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund.
The Englishman has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge for several weeks now, with the Blues initially attempting to sign him during the first transfer window of the summer.
Gittens is set to join Chelsea this summer (Photo: Nicolo Campo/Alamy)
A deal has now been agreed and Romano claims that Chelsea could pay an additional £3.5 million to the German side for the player.
Gittens, 20, joined Dortmund’s youth system in 2020 after leaving Manchester City, and has since progressed into the first team.
He has now played more than 100 times for the German side, scoring 17 times and providing 14 assists.
Romano also claims that the Bundesliga outfit will include a buy-back clause in the deal for the winger, who has represented England at under-21 level.
Gittens’ versatility could benefit Maresca and Chelsea, with the Englishman able to operate on either flank or even centrally as an attacking midfielder.
The winger will become Chelsea’s fifth signing of the summer window so far, following the arrivals of Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Joao Pedro.