Chelsea Defender ‘Agrees’ Borussia Dortmund Move

• Renato Veiga is thought to have struck a verbal agreement to join Borussia Dortmund in January
• The Portuguese defender only joined Chelsea in January
• Veiga is not the only Blues player who could be on the move this month

Chelsea’s versatile defender, Renato Veiga, has reportedly agreed to join Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on loan this January, according to a report in Germany.

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge from FC Basel in the summer, the Portugal international has impressed with his adaptability, playing in a variety of roles, often within the same match. However, Veiga has struggled to secure a consistent spot in Chelsea’s Premier League lineup, starting only once in the top flight this season.

While Serie A title contenders Napoli were keen on signing the 21-year-old, Antonio Conte’s side is no longer the favourites for his signature. Borussia Dortmund, however, are believed to have secured a “total verbal agreement” with Veiga, according to Sky Sport Germany. The Bundesliga club is interested in a loan deal with an option to buy.

Chelsea’s Standpoint

Despite Veiga’s verbal agreement with Dortmund, Chelsea has yet to finalize the deal. Manager Enzo Maresca has openly expressed his desire to retain the versatile defender. Ahead of a dominant 5-0 FA Cup victory over Morecambe, where Veiga started, Maresca stated:

“Renato is our player. He’s a player that we’re happy to have here with us. The last game he played was Tottenham away, and in a delicate moment, we trusted him to step in. This shows how much we value Renato.”

However, Maresca acknowledged that the final decision will be a collaborative effort involving the club, manager, and player, ensuring that the best outcome is achieved for all parties.

Other Potential Departures

Fellow defender Axel Disasi could also be on his way out of west London. Sky Sports Italy revealed that the French centre-back is on Juventus’ shortlist for defensive reinforcements this January. The Serie A giants are also keen on signing Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo and maintain an interest in Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva.