Chelsea fought hard to defeat Pafos 1-0 yesterday at Stamford Bridge. The Blues delivered an unimpressive display, as they struggled to find a way past goalkeeper Jay Gorter. Moises Caicedo eventually broke the deadlock with 12 minutes remaining, keeping their hopes of directly qualifying for the Champions League's last 16 alive when they face Napoli in their final game next week.
Not many days are left of the January transfer window, but the rumour mill doesn't seem to slow down. Chelsea have been linked with several players this month, and now a new name has been added to the list. Reports are emerging that the Blues are looking to enhance their midfield depth and have identified a Bundesliga prospect.
According to a report from Sky Sport, Chelsea and Manchester United are expressing interest in Felix Nmecha. His contract runs until 2028, but Borussia Dortmund would like to extend it early and sit down with the midfielder for talks after the current winter transfer window.
Nmecha joined Borussia Dortmund from Wolfsburg in 2023, and has been enjoying a breakthrough campaign. The midfielder has been a key performer this season, producing 5 goals and 3 assists in 28 appearances across all competitions, while consistently covering ground and winning tackles from midfield.
Chelsea and Manchester United register interest in Borussia Dortmund player
The 25-year-old's impressive performances and growing prominence in Germany have put him on the radar of top English clubs. But, Borussia Dortmund are reluctant to let Nmecha leave.
Nmecha has strong ties to English football, having been born in Hamburg but raised in Manchester. He spent several years at Man City's academy, coming through the same youth system as Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, and Cole Palmer. He also has an older brother, Lukas, who currently plays for Leeds United.
Nmecha becomes an appealing prospect for Chelsea due to his ability to play both ways, providing genuine versatility in midfield. The six-time German international is primarily a central midfielder, but he has also played defensive and attacking midfield roles throughout his career.
Both Chelsea and Manchester United are expected to continue monitoring before making a formal approach, if they choose to do so. While Borussia Dortmund are not under pressure to part ways, when Premier League clubs come calling, it is hard to keep players.