- Chelsea launched an improved bid to sign Gittens before special window shuts
- Blues and Dortmund will likely return to the negotiating table later this summer
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Chelsea will fail to complete the signing of Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund before the first of two transfer windows this summer shuts on Tuesday night.
The Blues were hoping to add the 20-year-old to their ranks for the Club World Cup and had been in negotiations with Dortmund, upping their initial proposal to €50million (£42m) in a last-ditch attempt to secure the deal.
Gittens has reportedly told Dortmund bosses that he wants to move to Stamford Bridge, with Enzo Maresca’s side ready to hand him a seven-year contract.
However, reports in Germany have now claimed that the deal is off after the German club refused to budge on their asking price for the winger.
Manchester City hold a 10 per cent sell-on clause for Gittens who left the club’s academy in 2020 for Dortmund.
A special transfer window, which allows clubs to complete deals before the tournament kicks off on Saturday, shuts on Tuesday at 7 pm before reopening next week. Chelsea and Dortmund are expected to return to the negotiating table after the summer tournament.
Chelsea will fail to complete the signing of Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund before the first of two transfer windows this summer shuts on Tuesday night
Dortmund chiefs Sebastian Kehl (pictured) and Lars Ricken turned down the Blues’ improved £42m bid
Chelsea were hoping to add the 20-year-old to their squad for the upcoming Club World Cup
Maresca’s men travel to the United States on Friday and face LAFC in their opening fixture in Atlanta on Monday.
While Gittens, who also had brief spells at Chelsea and Reading as a youngster, could be in the Dortmund squad for the tournament, which begins with a clash against Brazilian side Fluminense.
During his time in the Bundesliga, Gittens made racked up 106 appearances, scoring 17 goals. Although, his breakout campaign came this past season, over the course of which he scored 12 goals and provided three assists in 48 games.
The breakdown of his move is the second transfer collapse in a matter of hours for the west London club, who saw a transfer for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maigan fall by the wayside on Tuesday evening.
The Blues had stepped up their interest in the Frenchman in recent days and hoped to complete a deal before the special transfer window closes.
But the west Londoners were unwilling to pay Milan’s fee, which they believe was inflated due to their will to sign him in time for the Club World Cup.
It is understood that Milan want around £20m for Maignan, who has one year remaining on his contract at San Siro.
A deal between AC Milan and the Conference League winners is now off, according to Fabrizio Romano, who cited Chelsea’s frustration at a ‘Club World Cup tax’.
Chelsea saw their move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan collapse on Tuesday evening
Chelsea currently have five goalkeepers on their books but none have fully convinced fans.
Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Djordje Petrovic, Mike Penders and Kepa Arrizabalaga are all currently contracted at Stamford Bridge, but they have not persuaded the Chelsea hierarchy against looking for another keeper this window.
However, following a breakdown in negotiations for Maignan, the Blues reportedly maintain ‘full trust’ in Petrovic, Sanchez, Jorgensen and Penders.
