Why Jamie Gittens isn't in Borussia Dortmund team vs Ulsan amid Chelsea transfer interest

Jamie Gittens is not in the Borussia Dortmund squad for their Club World Cup match against Ulsan.

The player's absence comes amid continuing talks between Chelsea and Dortmund as they attempt to agree on a deal for Gittens. He is a priority for the Blues this summer transfer window, with the west London club optimistic about doing business with the Bundesliga club.

Chelsea want to sign a new left-sided winger after not taking up the permanent option in the loan contract of Jadon Sancho. They instead paid Manchester United a £5million fee to nullify their obligation to buy the former Dortmund player.

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As such, they are short of options on the left. That is why they made a £42million offer to sign Gittens earlier this month.

Dortmund may have turned down that bid, but both clubs have continued contact over a possible transfer, holding face-to-face talks in recent days. football.london understands Gittens has already agreed on a long-term contract with the Blues.

The England under-21 international is keen on returning home, being born in Reading, and has informed Dortmund of his desire to leave. As reported last week, Chelsea were preparing a fresh offer for Gittens.

With all that said, illness is the stated reason for why the player is not available against Uslan. Gittens did not even travel to Cincinnati from Fort Lauderdale in Florida, where the team have their base at the Inter Miami training facility.

“We left Jamie at home because he’s sick,” Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac said during his pre-match press conference. “The air conditioning is having an effect.

“His nose was blocked, and his throat was sore.” Giovanni Reyna is another player said to be doubtful because of illness, but he is on the bench.

Their starting line-up reads: Kobel; Couto, Ryerson, Anton, Bensebaini, Svensson; Gross, Bellingham, Nmecha; Adeyemi, Guirassy.

The substitutes are: Ostrzinski, Meyer, Reyna, Brandt, Beier, Duranville, Chukwuemeka, Sabitzer, Sule, Campbell, Mane, Inacio, Albert, Coulibaly, Azhil.