Chelsea are moving away from Athletic Club’s Nico Williams and are looking to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens instead, with two trusted journalists providing the latest on their winger pursuits.
Having already improved their striker options with the capture of Liam Delap, Chelsea are now working on signing a new left winger as their next attacking addition. The Blues already have Mykhailo Mudryk in their squad, though there is uncertainty over his future.
Mudryk was provisionally banned in December after failing a drugs test. He insists he is innocent but has been waiting for the result of his B sample for months.
Jadon Sancho was also at Stamford Bridge during the 2024-25 campaign, though he has since returned to Manchester United.
Chelsea have paid a £5million (€6m / $7m) penalty fee to United so they do not have to sign Sancho permanently.
Enzo Maresca needs a new wide man to operate on the left flank next season and forge a deadly partnership with the likes of Cole Palmer and Liam Delap.
Williams is one player Chelsea are big fans of. Indeed, it was claimed on June 5 that Chelsea were ready to trigger his €58m (£49.5m / $67m) release clause.
But according to David Ornstein, both Chelsea and Arsenal have ‘cooled’ their interest in Williams.
They are aware that Barcelona are in pole position to land the Spain star, with the player having greenlit such a move.
Bayern Munich are pushing hard to sign Williams too, though his preference is Barca as things stand.
Fabrizio Romano has also revealed that Barca are ready to ‘activate’ Williams’ exit clause as he has given them his ‘total priority’.
While this is clearly a blow for Chelsea, they do have other forwards on their radar and are set to ramp up their move for Dortmund’s Gittens instead.
In a separate update, Romano has stated that Gittens is Chelsea’s ‘priority target’ at left wing.
They have already agreed a seven-year contract with the Englishman and will soon hold further talks with Dortmund.
Chelsea began the bidding for Gittens at £42m (€49m / $57m), but this offer was rejected as Dortmund want more money before selling.
