Chelsea rejects Dortmund’s loan bid for Carney Chukwuemeka and opens talks with Bayern Munich for Christopher Nkunku.
Chelsea has rejected a loan bid with an obligation to buy from Dortmund for midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka. The Blues are growing frustrated with the ongoing talks and are now only willing to consider permanent offers for the midfielder.
Chukwuemeka spent the second half of last season on loan at Dortmund and has a £40 million release clause in his contract. However, Chelsea are open to accepting less than the agreed clause if suitable add-ons and a sell-on clause are included.
The valuation gap between Chelsea and Dortmund is nearly £20 million, which is the main sticking point in the negotiations. Chelsea wants to ensure they get a fair deal for Chukwuemeka, who has shown promise in his time at the club.
Meanwhile, Chukwuemeka is currently training with Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’, a group of senior players separate from manager Enzo Maresca’s first team.
In a separate development, Chelsea has opened talks with Bayern Munich for Christopher Nkunku. Bayern has reignited their interest in the versatile attacker, who joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in 2024 for £50 million.
However, the valuation is again a challenge, with Bayern aiming to negotiate a lower fee. Nkunku hasn’t played in Chelsea’s recent friendly matches against Bayer Leverkusen or AC Milan.
Chelsea are holding out for a fee close to the £50 million they paid to sign Nkunku. The talks between the two clubs are ongoing, and it’s unclear when a deal will be reached.
