Versatile Chelsea defender Renato Veiga has verbally agreed to join Borussia Dortmund on loan this month in the Bundesliga, according to a report in Germany.
The Portuguese has impressed during his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge since joining from FC Basel in the summer, lining up in a variety of roles – often within the same match. However, Veiga has struggled to break through at Chelsea Premier League XI, making just one start at the start of the season.
Serie A title challenger Napoli felt an opportunity to snap up the unused 21-year-old in January, but Antonio Conte's outfit are no longer favorites to bring in Veiga.
Borussia Dortmund have managed to reach a “total verbal agreement” with Veiga, according to Sky Sport Germany. Bundesliga outfit, who also have registered their interest in Chelsea's Carney Chukwuemeka are thought to be keen to agree a loan deal that includes an option to buy.
Veiga is supposedly “keen” on the move to Germany, but Chelsea have not reached an agreement and manager Enzo Maresca has openly expressed his desire to keep the versatile defender. “Renato is our player,” the Italian coach insisted before Saturday's kick-off 5-0 FA Cup win over Morecambewhich Veiga started. “He is a player that we are happy to have here with us.
“The last game he played was Tottenham away and at a delicate moment in the game we put him there. This showed how much we trust Renato.
“But like I said, it's not just what I think, or what the club thinks, or what the player thinks. It's something we have to make the right decision for the club, the players and the manager.”
Fellow defender Axel Disasi could also be on his way from west London. Sky Sports Italia revealed that the French centre-back is on Juventus' shortlist of defensive reinforcements this month.
The Serie A giants are too battling Arsenal for Barcelona's Ronald Araujo and maintain an interest in Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva.