Chelsea have contacted player who once scored against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen

Chelsea and Manchester United are firmly in the mix to sign Borussia Dortmund attacker Karim Adeyemi this summer.

Excitement is building around Stamford Bridge following Xabi Alonso’s appointment on a four-year contract, with the Spaniard named as manager rather than head coach, as many in the hot seat before him have been.

Enzo Maresca previously complained about a lack of control over recruitment. But BlueCo have learned from this mistake by giving the 44-year-old keys to their war chest ahead of his official arrival on July 1.

Alonso will be drafting a list of exciting transfer targets to fit his 3-4-2-1 system, starting with defensive investment and then adding some much-needed firepower in attack.

Chelsea have contacted Karim Adeyemi’s representatives

Dortmund superstar Adeyemi has been on Chelsea’s radar for a while, and this summer could present a chance to land him.

According to TEAMtalk, the Blues have already contacted the German’s representatives over the past year and view the explosive forward as a dynamic addition to bolster their attacking options.

Manchester United also see Adeyemi as a priority target and feel Champions League qualification puts them in the driving seat for the winger, while Liverpool are closely monitoring his development ahead of the summer.

The 24-year-old is heading into a decisive period of his Dortmund career as his current deal expires in June 2027, and talks of a contract extension at Signal Iduna Park have stalled. Despite this, the Bundesliga giants are willing to sell him for around £60 million this summer instead of losing him on a free transfer in 2027.

Capable of playing in any position across the front line, but predominantly as a second striker during the 2025/26 campaign, Adeyemi has 36 goals and 25 assists in 146 appearances for the German giants.

Adeyemi has scored against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Levekusen

A forward with Adeyemi’s attributes fits perfectly into the Premier League. The Dortmund dynamo is arguably one of the quickest in Europe, possessing incredible pace and power that defences struggle to live with.

Alonso will know the German international’s capabilities all too well, having watched him destroy Bayer Leverkusen in his penultimate game in charge of the club in May 2025.

Dortmund produced a stunning 4-2 victory, as Adeyemi assisted Julian Brandt with a pull-back from the byline before tearing through the middle of Alonso’s defence to score.

Adeyemi’s devastating skill set could therefore flourish in the Spaniard’s system at Stamford Bridge, operating as one of the number 10’s in behind a striker. Indeed, the forward’s speed alongside Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro is a mouth-watering prospect.