Chelsea ready to pay over €100 million to sign Liverpool target - Reports

Chelsea are reportedly ready to splash €100 million for the signature of Jamie Gittens who has also been linked with a switch to Liverpool. As claimed by Bild’s Michael Makus, the English youngster has been watched by a host of clubs from across Europe in recent months.

The report suggests that Chelsea are ready to make Gittens their next big-money signing. As per Makus, the Blues are willing to pay Borussia Dortmund €100 million for the 20-year-old.

However, as claimed by the aforementioned report, the England Under-21 international is also wanted by Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. All three clubs are believed to be long-term admirers of the former Manchester City youngster.

Borussia Dortmund have previously nurtured top English talents like Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham at Signal Iduna Park. They made big profits from their sales and Gittens looks to be the next big English export from the Bundesliga side.

Gittens was formerly in the youth ranks of clubs like Chelsea, Reading, and Manchester City before he was snapped up by Dortmund in 2020. The youngster has developed well during his time at the German club and has established himself as a star for them.

In 76 appearances for the BVB senior side, the winger has scored 12 goals while producing 13 assists. He has been particularly productive this season with seven goals and four assists in 18 games. His contract will expire in 2028.

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Chelsea legend names Liverpool defender as the best defender in the world

Chelsea great Didier Drogba has named Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk as the best centre-back in the world at the moment. The former Ivory Coast international, who scored 164 goals and provided 81 assists in 381 appearances for the Blues, was one of the best strikers of his time.

In a conversation with GOAL, Drogba was asked who he regards as the best defender of all time and the best defender right now. He named Franz Beckenbauer as the greatest defender of all time and picked van Dijk for the next category. He said, as quoted by TBR Football:

“Wow, it is difficult for me to say, but I’ll go with van Dijk.”

Van Dijk has been a key figure behind Liverpool's success since his reported £75 million switch from Southampton in January 2018. He has made 287 appearances for the Reds, helping the club win eight trophies.