Chelsea are now open to letting midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka leave loan this month, with Borussia Dortmund said to be eyeing the 21-year-old's signature.
Chukwuemeka has struggled for minutes all season under Blues coach Enzo Maresca, who admitted during the summer that he didn't foresee a big role for the midfielder this year. He has not featured in a single Premier League fixture and has instead been forced to settle for 130 minutes in five cup appearances.
At the beginning of this month it was reported that Chelsea were only prepared to accept permanent offers for Chukwuemeka, whose contract includes a release clause worth around £40m, but Fabrizio Romano notes that a loan move is now on the table.
Chelsea have warned suitors that any bid must be a straight loan deal, without a buyout clause, and Chukwuemeka's wages must be fully covered.
Dortmund are in talks to lure Chukwuemeka to Germany, but Chelsea could still opt to send the 21-year-old to sister club Strasbourg, although they would have to terminate one of their three current loan deals with the French side – Andrey Santos, Djordje. Petrovic and Caleb Wiley.
There have been many negotiations between Chelsea and Dortmund already this month, with The Bundesliga giants are looking for a deal for Renato Veiga. The Portuguese reportedly wants to leave Stamford Bridge and join a team that can offer him more minutes at centre-back.