CHELSEA are plotting a shock transfer swoop for Karim Adeyemi, according to reports.
It is another summer of change at Stamford Bridge following Mauricio Pochettino’s exit in May.
That led to Enzo Maresca taking over as manager, and the Italian is now looking to put his own stamp on the squad.
The 44-year-old raided old club Leicester last week for his first major signing.
The Blues forked out around £30m for midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Now they are allegedly looking to strengthen their forward line – and it is the Dortmund ace who is said to have emerged as a surprise top target.
That is according to Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk, who claims that Chelsea have already opened talks on a deal for the 22-year-old German international.
He posted a number of updates on the situation on X.
Falk claimed: “Blues bosses are already in contact with player and want to persuade him to move to the UK.”
Now negotiations between Chelsea chiefs and their Dortmund counterparts are planned.
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He claimed the West London club are also facing competition from Italy for Adeyemi.
Juventus are also interested in the striker – with Dortmund demanding around £25m.
And they still hold plenty of leeway in the talks as the ace is under contract with them until 2027.
Adeyemi burst on to the scene with RB Salzburg in Austria as a teenager.
He scored 27 goals in 68 league appearances for them and helped them to three straight Austrian doubles before his departure in 2022.
The hotshot cost Dortmund around £32.5m that summer and he won the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year in his debut season.
However, he failed to follow up that form last term despite the club reaching the Champions League final.
Adeyemi has scored 14 goals and laid on eight assists in his 66 appearances across all competitions for the Black and Yellows.
STAY in the know this summer with The Sun's transfer experts.
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