Chelsea transfer pursuit of Euro 2024 star could spell end for two flops as 'contact made'

Chelsea are reportedly preparing to step up their efforts to sign Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund, which could see two players leave Stamford Bridge this summer as Enzo Maresca begins to rebuild his squad. The Blues have already made contact with Dortmund chiefs and the player’s agent to gauge potential interest in a move to the Premier League, according to reports in Germany.

Chelsea were one of the clubs heavily linked with signing Adeyemi after his breakthrough season with Red Bull Salzburg in 2021, where he scored five goals in the Champions League group stage. However, Dortmund fought off competition from the Blues and Liverpool to secure his signature in a deal worth around £32.5million in 2022, the day after selling Erling Haaland to Manchester City.

However, the Germany international has largely struggled to discover his best form in the Bundesliga and has notched only 14 goals in 66 appearances for the German outfit. The 22-year-old bagged just five goals in all competitions last season, with Jadon Sancho and Donyell Malen typically preferred by Dortmund coach Edin Terzic.

According to Bild, the two clubs have opened talks and Dortmund are looking for a £25m fee for Adeyemi, which would fit Chelsea’s budget after being priced out of moves for Samu Omorodion and Jhon Duran.

That has left the door ajar for new head coach Maresca to target the 22-year-old, as he looks to bring in attacking reinforcements. And it could spell bad news for two underperforming players in Chelsea’s squad, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling, who may face a nervous wait over their futures if Adeyemi arrives.

Mudryk, a £88million signing from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, was supposed to be the poster boy for Todd Boehly’s reign after the American billionaire completed his takeover over two years ago.

But Mudryk has failed to hit the ground running, struggling to hold down a regular spot under former managers Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino, and it is believed the 23-year-old may not be viewed as an ideal fit for Maresca’s positional play system.

The Ukrainian star only hit seven goals and two assists in 41 appearances for Chelsea last season, and he was linked with a loan move to Bayern Munich in January before the deal was scuppered by Pochettino.

Likewise, Sterling has endured a difficult period since his £47.5m transfer from Manchester City in July 2022. The England international has found the net only 19 times in 81 games for the west London club and was booed off by Chelsea fans at various points in the season.

The 29-year-old’s wages – rumoured to be £325,000 a week – would make it difficult for him to join another team in the Premier League, although there has been past interest from Saudi Arabia in acquiring the winger.

Adeyemi is regarded as a speed merchant who prefers to operate from the left and scored the winning goal when Chelsea lost 1-0 in a Champions League tie during the 2022-23 campaign. His playing style is seen to be very similar to Mudryk and Sterling, which could suggest Chelsea are looking to move at least one of them on.

Mudryk returned from holiday early to begin work under Maresca for pre-season, proving his commitment to changing his fortunes in his second full season in London. But he may be powerless to avoid the exit if Chelsea’s sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart decide to cash in this summer.