Chelsea have apparently identified their number one transfer target for the summer of 2025 but are facing competition from two other European giants to secure his signature.
The Blues splashed the cash once again ahead of the 2024-25 season, bringing the likes of Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Joao Felix, Filip Jorgensen and Renato Veiga to Stamford Bridge.
Co-chairman Todd Boehly has now overseen over £1bn worth of signings during his short stint at the helm, drawing criticism and ridicule from rival fans and pundits alike, but Enzo Maresca has steadied the ship this season.
Often rotating between two entirely different teams for Premier League and Conference League action, Maresca has led the Blues into the top four of the top-flight table before Sunday's crunch London derby with Arsenal.
However, Chelsea have inevitably been linked with a plethora of names for the summer 2025 transfer window, where two out-of-favour attackers in Raheem Sterling and Mykhaylo Mudryk could be moved on.
Chelsea 'identify Karim Adeyemi as top target'
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According to Italian outlet Tuttojuve, Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi is at the top of Boehly's wishlist for the summer of 2025 as the German continues to go from strength to strength for club and country.
The 22-year-old was a product of the famed Red Bull Salzburg academy system and is now thriving at Dortmund, having a direct hand in 10 goals from just eight matches in the 2024-25 season, five of his own and five assists.
Adeyemi - who is currently sidelined with a muscle tear - has 19 goals and 13 assists to show from 74 matches in a yellow shirt since 2022, including a hat-trick in a 7-1 Champions League thrashing of Celtic earlier this season.
The Germany international is contracted to Nuri Sahin's side until the summer of 2027, but a move to the Premier League has been mooted for several months, speculation intensified by Dortmund's struggles in the current campaign.
Sahin's side have only won five of their opening nine Bundesliga matches of the season, losing three and drawing the other one to sit fifth in the table, seven points below leaders Bayern Munich.
What other clubs are pursuing Adeyemi's signature?
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Chelsea head coach Maresca is understood to be the driving force for Adeyemi's signature, as the former Leicester City head coach believes that his 'pace and balance' can work well in his setup.
However, the West London outfit are facing competition from at least two clubs to capture the 22-year-old, including Liverpool, who could lose Mohamed Salah on a free transfer in the summer of 2025.
Paris Saint-Germain are also believed to be keeping a close eye on Adeyemi's future in case they cannot land their top target to replace Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Napoli.
Juventus have also been credited with an interest, but the Old Lady could be priced out of a move for the ex-Salzburg man, whom Dortmund have apparently set an asking price of €50m (£41.6m) for.
Ben Knapton
