Chelsea make Gittens top target and keep Kudus and João Pedro in sights
Chelsea are prioritising a move for the Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens but have also held further talks with West Ham over Mohammed Kudus and contacted Brighton about João Pedro as they consider buying a versatile forward.
Enzo Maresca is determined to sign a right-footed left-winger and there is an expectation that Gittens will end up at Chelsea this summer. Dortmund rejected a £42m bid for the 20-year-old this month but Chelsea have agreed personal terms with the England Under-21 international and are likely to return with an improved offer. Chelsea have identified Lyon's Malick Fofana as a potential alternative to Gittens, who is valued at £50m by Dortmund.
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Related: Manchester City v Wydad AC: Club World Cup – live
Maresca wants a winger who can cut in from the left after Chelsea decided not to buy Jadon Sancho from Manchester United. The head coach's options on the flanks are limited to Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke, both of whom are left-footed, and the inexperienced Tyrique George.
Madueke likes to play on the right but started on the left when Chelsea opened their Club World Cup campaign by beating Los Angeles FC 2-0. Chelsea will listen to suitable offers for the England international, not least because another left-footed winger – the 18-year-old Brazilian sensation Estêvão Willian – joins from Palmeiras after the Club World Cup.
There is also a desire to bring in a versatile forward so Maresca can rotate during a season with the added demands of the Champions League. The arrival of Liam Delap, who will compete with Nicolas Jackson, means Chelsea do not need another conventional No 9. They could benefit from lifting the creative burden on Cole Palmer, given that João Félix and Christopher Nkunku are out of favour and free to leave.
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Chelsea failed with an initial approach for Kudus, who is also a target for Manchester United, Newcastle and one other unnamed Premier League club. Talks took place with West Ham, who are looking to raise funds by selling Kudus, after Chelsea were offered an opportunity to sign the Ghana international.
Discussions have continued but there has not been a formal bid. Chelsea have proposed including players in any transfer but West Ham want a straight sale and were similarly uninterested when United suggested a swap. Kudus's contract contains an £85m release clause, valid for Premier League sides for the first 10 days of July. The 24-year-old, who can play on both flanks and through the middle, impressed after joining West Ham in 2023 but he struggled last season and wants a move.
Chelsea have reached out to Brighton about Pedro, who could be available for £60m. Nothing is imminent, though, and Newcastle's interest in the Brazilian forward is more advanced. Chelsea have also looked at RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons and Hugo Ekitike but have been put off the latter by Eintracht Frankfurt's £84m valuation. United have scouted Ekitike.
Mamadou Sarr aims to become the best centre-back in the world after joining Chelsea from Strasbourg for £11.9m. The 19-year-old defender is not short of self-belief after a breakthrough year in Ligue 1. Sarr said he tried to model his game on Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and has developed under the watch of Liam Rosenior at Strasbourg, Chelsea's partner club.
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Rosenior placed faith in Sarr last season, handing him 27 league appearances, and believes the former Lyon defender can reach the top. The Strasbourg manager described Sarr as a 'scary' talent and is said to think the France Under-19 international can become world class.
'When I was a kid I had a dream,' Sarr said. 'It was to be the best centre-back in the world. I trust him and I trust myself.'
Sarr seems suited to Maresca's preference for defenders who are comfortable on the ball. 'I think I anticipate well,' he said. 'With the ball, I can pick a good pass. I want to be like Virgil van Dijk. I love Van Dijk. But some people tell me I play like Ibrahima Konaté.'
Van Dijk's leadership skills stand out to Sarr. He talked about working hard in training to establish himself at Chelsea. There is a lot of competition in central defence, including from Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoît Badiashile, and it is not clear whether Sarr will be sent on loan.
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