Chelsea to make improved offer for Gittens after £29.5m bid was rejected

Chelsea are to make an improved offer for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens after their opening £29.5m bid was rejected.

Dortmund want somewhere in the region of £40m for the former Manchester City youth prospect.

The Blues are hoping to sign him before Tuesday’s deadline to play in the Club World Cup and are prepared to offer a seven-year contract.

City hold a 10 per cent sell-on clause for the 20-year-old, who left the club's academy in 2020 for Dortmund.

Gittens, who also had brief spells at Chelsea and Reading as a youngster, made his senior debut in the Bundesliga days after his 18th birthday.

He has racked up 106 appearances since, 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.

Chelsea have also offered £12.6m for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

Meanwile, Arsenal are finalising the £5m signing of Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Chelsea are interested in a number of defensive options, including Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi.

As well as Guehi, Chelsea remain keen on Jorrel Hato of Ajax. The highly rated centre-back made his senior debut at just 16 years old and became an undisputed starter for the Eredivisie side last season.

Now 19, Hato has been appointed as one of Ajax's vice-captains, and was named Eredivisie Talent of the Year in 2024-25.