Chelsea push ahead with transfer talks for next Dortmund star in surprise swap deal as they also aim to raid Bundesliga giants for their No.1 goalkeeper

Chelsea are pursuing a swap deal involving Carney Chukwuemeka and Jamie Gittens, BILD reports. Chukwuemeka, who is currently on loan at Borussia Dortmund until the end of the season, was signed by the Blues in 2022 but hefty competition for places at Stamford Bridge saw him deemed surplus to requirements. Indeed, the Premier League side are apparently now looking at moving him on in a permanent transfer, that would see Gittens head in the opposite direction.

Intriguingly, Arsenal's interest in Gittens could complicate matters. German publication Ruhr Nachrichte even claims that the Gunners are now a 'step ahead', although the €100 million (£85m) asking price is way more than they're prepared to pay. That could open a window of opportunity for Chelsea, if they can tempt Dortmund into agreeing to a Chukwuemeka-Gittens swap.

According to BILD, Chelsea are also exploring the possibility of bringing in Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. The transfer negotiations have been described as a 'poker game', and despite the Switzerland international being happy in Germany, he may well be keen on progressing his career, should Chelsea make the Champions League. The fee could be a stumbling block, however, with Dortmund apparently asking for €60m (£51m).

Chelsea and Dortmund will continue talks to see if an agreement can be reached, both regarding the Chukwuemeka-Gittens transfer and also a proposed switch to Stamford Bridge for Kobel. The Blues will soon be able to ramp up their summer plans, with them having just three Premier League games remaining. They're also favourites to lift the Europa Conference League and take a 4-1 advantage into their semi-final second leg against Djurgarden on May 8. As for Dortmund, they're currently fifth in the Bundesliga table and a failure to make the top four could lead to many star names, including Kobel, seeking an exit.