David Ornstein "fascinated" as Chelsea consider deal for £80m forward
da blaze casino： Reliable journalist David Ornstein has shared an update on Chelsea and their transfer plans for the summer window, involving a marquee forward who is very much under consideration at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea targeting new centre-back and striker this summer
da pixbet： Reports in the last fortnight have made it pretty clear that manager Enzo Maresca and BlueCo are in the market for a central defender and striker ahead of the 2025/2026 season.
Related Chelsea in talks with striker they were secretly close to signing in January
They nearly got a winter deal done “behind closed doors”.
1
Champions League qualification is firmly on the cards for Chelsea now that five spots are now up for grabs, but it will be an extremely tight race from now till the end of this Premier League campaign.
Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures
Date
Ipswich Town (home)
April 13th
Fulham (away)
April 20th
Everton (home)
April 26th
Liverpool (home)
May 4th
Newcastle (away)
May 10th
Just two points separate fourth and seventh in the table, with Newcastle United, Man City, Aston Villa and the Blues all tussling for spots in Europe’s most prestigious competition next term.
It is set up to be a very intriguing race, and many twists are anticipated in the coming weeks, but qualification for the Champions League is a non-negotiable for Maresca, which also could be crucial in attracting their desired transfer targets this summer.
Chelsea have earmarked the signing of a striker as one of their key aims, according to Sky Sports, with RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko, Lille’s Jonathan David, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitiké and “long-term target” Victor Osimhen all on their radar.
Chelsea have also reopened contact with Ipswich Town star Liam Delap’s representatives, following the Englishman’s impressive campaign at Portman Road, and it is believed his deal will include a tempting £30 million release clause if his side are relegated.
Ornstein reported earlier this week that Chelsea have also held talks with Dean Huijsen’s camp in the last week, so a new central defender to cover the likes of Wesley Fofana is also on the club’s agenda.
However, the wide area may also be reinforced, with uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of Jadon Sancho, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke.
Mudryk is facing a lengthy ban after failing a recent drug test, while there is apparently no guarantee that Chelsea will sign Sancho on a permanent deal from Man United, as they possess the option not to trigger his obligation clause if they pay a penalty fee (Sky Sports).
Meanwhile, it is believed Chelsea are becoming more open to selling Madueke amid interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle.
Chelsea considering deal for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens
Taking all of this into account, BlueCo are also planning to sign a winger this summer, with Ornstein sharing in a Q&A that Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens remains a target after previous links.
“We’ve reported about Gittens and Garnacho since January and there will be other names under consideration, too,” said Ornstein.
“Equally, Chelsea won’t be the only club looking at the players they are. So let’s see — but I am fascinated to watch what happens with Gittens, as he’s a fantastic player and looks to have a very bright future.”
The England Under-21 international boasts 12 goals and five assists from 41 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring in big games against the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
He’s justifiably attracting attention from his homeland as a result, but Chelsea will need to pay a premium for the 20-year-old. Gittens reportedly commands a price tag of around £80 million, and while Maresca wants to strengthen other areas of the squad, they’ll most likely need to whittle this figure down – potentially by offering players in exchange.
