Borussia Dortmund have left the door open for Chelsea to make another attempt to sign Jamie Gittens this summer.
Chelsea held advanced talks with Dortmund over a deal for the 20-year-old before the transfer window closed on Tuesday night.
But after Chelsea’s initial €35 million (£29.5m) bid was rejected, their follow up offer of €50m (£42.2m) was also turned down by the Bundesliga side.
It’s understood that Dortmund were holding out for a €65m (£54.9m) fee for Gittens, who has now been named in their Club World Cup squad.
Dortmund will play Brazilian side Fluminense, South Korea’s Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in Group F.
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However, Dortmund’s sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, admits an agreement with Chelsea for Gittens could be reached after the tournament.
‘There was contact with Chelsea, who got in touch again yesterday afternoon,’ Kehl told Ruhr Nachrichten.
‘We spoke again on the phone. In the end, we were unable to reach an agreement because we have different ideas about the player’s current value.
‘We’re happy that Jamie will now be at the Club World Cup and are pleased that he’s staying.
‘We examined it very seriously, but in the end, we also made a decision for ourselves.
‘But it’s still absolutely fine that Chelsea made this attempt. And again, we’re in good dialogue. We’ll see how things develop in the future.’
Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign begins against Los Angeles FC on June 16.
Enzo Maresca’s side will then play Flamengo on June 20 before their final Group D game against ES Tunis on June 25.
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