Chelsea make Jamie Gittens transfer decision as £55.3m update emerges

Chelseahave changed their earlier position are now prepared to meet Borussia Dortmund's demand for Jamie Gittens, it has been claimed.

Enzo Maresca's side want to sign a new right-footed left-winger after not taking up the £25million permanent option in the loan contract of Jadon Sancho. They instead paid Manchester United a £5m fee to nullify their obligation to buy the former Dortmund man.

As the Blues are short of options on the left, they are looking at recruiting in that position and Gittens has been identified as a top target. Earlier this month, Chelsea made a £42m offer for the 20-year-old.

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Dortmund turned down that bid and Gittens instead travelled to the Club World Cup with the Bundesliga side. However, Gittens was not involved during Dortmund's 1-0 win against Ulsan HD on Wednesday.

While illness was the reason behind Gittens' omission, speculation has increased around a potential move to Stamford Bridge for the England Under 21s international, who is keen to return home.

Now, it has emerged that Chelsea are willing to meet Dortmund's demand for Gittens. According to BILD, the Blues are ready to pay £55.3m to sign him - a quarter more than what they first offered.

Bayern Munich tried to make a late hijack for Gittens but Chelsea appear to have won the race. Gittens has given the greenlight to the Blues and is keen to get a deal done this summer.

Gittens, who scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 48 appearances for Dortmund during the domestic and European season, has played just 13 minutes at the Club World Cup.

He came on as a second-half substitute against Fluminense in their group opener, before remaining as an unused substitute against Mamelodi Sundowns in their second game.

Having been left out of the squad to face Ulsan due to illness, Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac said during his pre-match press conference: "We left Jamie at home because he’s sick. The air conditioning is having an effect. His nose was blocked, and his throat was sore."