Chelsea, under new boss Enzo Maresca, have already kicked off their summer business by securing Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30 million. Now, attention has turned to adding fresh attacking talent, with 20-year-old Gittens among their key priorities.
Gittens, who briefly spent time at Chelsea’s academy before moving to Dortmund in 2020, has gone on to rack up over 100 appearances for the Bundesliga club. His performances in the first half of last season were particularly impressive, though his form dipped following a managerial change at Dortmund.
Despite that, Chelsea have already had two bids rejected, as Dortmund hold firm on a price close to the winger’s £50.5 million release clause. The Blues see Gittens as a long-term replacement for Jadon Sancho, whom they returned to Manchester United after failing to agree a permanent deal.
But Hamann believes Gittens would be a better fit at Old Trafford. With Manchester United expected to move on from several underperforming wingers including Rashford, Sancho, and Antony, there’s an opportunity for Gittens to establish himself in a rebuilding side under new manager Ruben Amorim.
“Chelsea already have a lot of players,” said Hamann. “Gittens has great potential and could make a real difference at Manchester United, especially now that they’re planning to offload a number of wide players.”
The former Liverpool star added that while Gittens is under contract at Dortmund, the German side may be open to letting him go given manager Niko Kovac’s preference for more industrious players.
Whether Chelsea can outbid United or convince the player of their project remains to be seen, but with both Premier League giants in transition, Gittens’ next move could shape the trajectory of his young career.