Chelsea is continuously looking for young talent. The Premier League club are reportedly running the rule over Jamie Gittens from Birmingham City. They are looking for a potential summer transfer on the cards. The Birmingham-born player has really emerged as one of the most promising young players in the Championship. The 19-year-old has shown that he has the potential to really shine this season. Gittens did his best work as a winger and can play his trade across the front line, and has already shown his pace, technical ability, directness, and maturity when considering whether to pass or shoot, all at a young age.
Jamie Gittens from Birmingham City joined the academy and made his first-team debut last season, slowly progressing into the senior setup. He has had a breakthrough season this campaign with performances reminiscent of a young Jack Grealish in terms of playing style, getting defenders on the back foot and always wanting to take them on and dribble.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Arsenal are in serious talks with Dortmund for the signing of Jamie Gittens. 🔴
They are ahead of Chelsea in the race. Dortmund want around €50m-€60m for the winger.
(Source: @RNBVB) pic.twitter.com/WV0jyJjFmN
Chelsea, under Todd Boehly, have focused on acquiring the world’s best young players for their first team. So, it has been evident in their sizeable sums on young players such as Kendry Páez, Angelo Gabriel and Andrey Santos. Gittens fits this mould of an exciting technical talented English teenager who will continue to get better.
Gittens is viewed by the Blues as a player who could develop into a proper first-team player. However, he will certainly be a squad player at least at the start to provide depth and minutes for their development squad. His ability to play in various attacking positions was particularly attractive to a Chelsea side. The blues like to use players in multiple forward positions under the Mauricio Pochettino system.
🚨 TRANSFERS!
Chelsea are in talks for Jamie Gittens and they are PROGRESSING. 🏴
A first bid is expected soon, more than £30m with a little bonus to try and reach an agreement with Dortmund. 🐝
Information from @FabrizioRomano. ✨ pic.twitter.com/iMUUwOY4A3
Birmingham City is likely to consider selling Gittens because of the financial difficulties that come with being a Championship club. However, they will want a sizeable fee for a player they see great potential in. Moreover, this could be in the region of £10-15 million plus add-ons, if Chelsea were to get to that stage.
The Championship club will also be demanding a sell-on clause, and possibly a loan-back clause, similar to what they did with Jude Bellingham when he was sold to Borussia Dortmund. Gittens is still a key player for them, and Birmingham will prefer to keep him for at least another season if they can.
Chelsea are not the only Premier League club interested in following Gittens. Aston Villa, Newcastle and Brighton have all had scouts watch him multiple times this season. Brighton’s track record of developing young players may be the most attractive to Gittens, but Villa’s local connection may play a part in the decision making here.
European clubs are aware too, with RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund upholding their longstanding interest in young English players. But Chelsea are strong financially. They have the recent history of trusting their young players, which can put them in a strong position.
If Chelsea can secure a deal for Gittens, it would be the latest step in their long-term player development strategy. He would start in the development squad, with limited opportunities in the first team, similar to the pathway for academy players as Alfie Gilchrist horizontally has to the first team this season.
Jamie Gittens embodies precisely the kind of talent Chelsea would like to add to their expanding bank of players. They know he is not a finished article yet. But there is clearly something there that Chelsea sees in him. Moreover, the Blues are keen to get a deal before his price tag could potentially increase.
But Chelsea’s deal will depend on their ability to convince Birmingham City. Also, importantly the player, that this is the right move at the right time in his career. A transfer for Gittens is highly desirable, but with clubs suddenly wanting to sign him, Chelsea may have to act fast to secure one of the most exciting young attackers in English football.
A move for Gittens at Chelsea would offer world-class training and facilities, but the question for the 19-year-old is, if Chelsea are the right environment for his continued progression? One thing seems certain – this talented young man has a bright future ahead of him, wherever that may be.
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