Chelsea bosses already have Bellingham approval on £25m Adeyemi move

Chelsea fans will surely be buzzing with the revelation that Jude Bellingham once praised their £25million target Karim Adeyemi – saying “not many players can stop” him.

Bellingham, who became a sensation at Borussia Dortmund before his big-money move to Real Madrid last summer for £88million, witnessed Adeyemi’s abilities first-hand during their time together in Germany.

Adeyemi, who made the switch to Dortmund in 2022, has had a challenging stint, marred by injuries and bouts of inconsistency, reports the Mirror.

The 22-year-old forward’s 2023/24 season was particularly tough, with a foot ligament injury limiting him to just five goals in 34 appearances across all competitions, and only 10 Bundesliga starts.

Yet, despite his less-than-stellar season, speculation about a Premier League switch persists, with Chelsea reportedly keen on securing Adeyemi’s signature, as per BILD.

The report suggests that Chelsea chiefs are already engaging with the German international, aiming to lure him to England, while Dortmund are believed to be holding out for a £25m fee – slightly less than the £32.5m they paid Red Bull Salzburg for him.

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It’s said that talks between Chelsea and Dortmund are on the horizon, but with Juventus also in the mix, the Blues might face stiff competition for the young forward’s services.

Despite having seen his fair share of ups and downs with the German club, the flashes of brilliance that enthralled Bellingham during their shared stint in Germany are evident. Speaking after the German’s stunning goal against Chelsea in the previous season’s Champions League, the England ace had nothing but praise for his former team-mate.

“We are really confident when he gets the ball one on one. Not many players can stop him,” Bellingham voiced to BT Sport. “He had a tough time coming here at the start – finding his feet – and now he’s flying.”

While Adeyemi didn’t make Germany’s squad for Euro 2024, Bellingham keeps setting the football world ablaze on the international turf, notching up two goals in England’s march to the semi-finals. The Three Lions are set to face off against the Netherlands on Wednesday (July 10).