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Football London
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Bobby Vincent

Jude Bellingham set for Chelsea transfer audition as Graham Potter learns Champions League draw

Finally, a long-awaited trip to Dortmund for some lucky Chelsea supporters after the two clubs drew each other for the first time in their history.

Graham Potter's side will come up against Edin Terzic's team in what is set to be a mouthwatering Round of 16 tie in the UEFA Champions League. We've only just found out the draw, and already there are a number of talking points.

Returns to Signal Iduna Park for the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Christian Pulisic. A return to west London for Thorgan Hazard. The first-ever meeting in European competition between these two huge clubs.

READ MORE: How Mikel Arteta angered Cesar Azpilicueta as Chelsea face Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp repeat

Perhaps, though, the biggest talking point is Chelsea coming up against Jude Bellingham. football.london understands that the 19-year-old midfielder is a long-term target of the Blues. Club officials have watched Bellingham since breaking through the Birmingham City academy.

He has now played at Dortmund for over two years, and he continues to mature into a world-class midfielder. The England international is just 19, and already people are suggesting Gareth Southgate should build the Three Lions' team around the midfielder for this month's World Cup.

Of course, the next window is in January, but striking such a deal will be virtually impossible for Chelsea then. Instead, next summer could be the way to go – but as you'd expect for a player of Bellingham's calibre and class, it will be far from straightforward trying to land his signature.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are also interested in the teenage sensation and are expected to also be involved in negotiations at the end of the season. Chelsea and Potter are set to get a closer look at the talented Bellingham towards the middle/or at the end of February, when the Blues meet Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park, before the return leg three weeks later.

Dortmund came runners-up where they shared a group with eventual winners Man City. Bellingham scored for the Germans at the Etihad Stadium in September but was unable to find the net in the return game in Dortmund last month. Just before the goalless draw in Germany, Pep Guardiola described Bellingham as the "whole package".

"Borussia Dortmund is the perfect place for young talent to come," Guardiola said. "Maybe if Jude Bellingham was in England, he would go to City, United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal or Tottenham, maybe he would not get minutes.

"The best thing for a young player to be better is to play minutes. He was 17 when he arrived, but it was not about his quality, how he was leading, his kicking, going to the referee. This guy was something special in terms of mentality.

"Now he is 19, and he is already one of the captains. The quality, everybody knows it. The whole package is really good."

Chelsea need to address the midfield next summer. At the moment, it looks as if Jorginho and N'Golo Kante could be set to depart the club at the end of the season. The two experienced central midfielders see their contracts expire next year.

football.london understands talks are already undergoing behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge regarding the midfield situation and how the club can bolster their options in the upcoming windows. Bellingham remains an option for Chelsea, but the likes of Declan Rice and Edson Alvarez are also on the agenda.

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