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Carney Chukwuemeka: Borussia Dortmund look to take advantage of Aston Villa teen's contract impasse
Borussia Dortmund are monitoring Aston Villa’s Carney Chukwuemeka as they hope for him to follow in Jude Bellingham’s footsteps according to Der Westen.
The Villains’ teenage midfielder has a contract that runs out in the summer of 2023, and so far he has resisted signing an extension.
That is not for want of trying on the part of his club, with manager Steven Gerrard saying this week, via The Athletic: “We’ve done everything we can from our side”.
The Athletic reports that the 18-year-old is prepared to wait until the summer before making a decision on his future, a development which has raised the interest of potential suitors such as the Bundesliga giants.
Der Westen report that Bayern Munich have also looked at the player who has made eight substitute appearances since starting the draw with Brentford early in the season.
The Birmingham Mail say that Chukwuemeka is “disappointed” with the lack of starts since that game in August, hence why he is holding off committing his future to the club until the end of the campaign.
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A backlash reportedly developed on social media after Gerrard’s blunt response to questions about the player’s future, with Arsenal mooted to be another potential transfer destination.
The former England captain had said, via Birmingham Mail: “We’ve got big aspirations and a big road map for Carney but, in terms of answering your question, there’s only one person who can answer and that’s Carney.”
Despite his current side appearing very keen to keep hold of him, it is no surprise that the midfielder is waiting to make a decision, as he has not yet become a regular in the starting XI, and he must surely be aware of Dortmund’s reputation for developing young talent.
Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho returned to England last summer for £73million, having become a regular in Gareth Southgate’s international set up while in Germany, after seeing a lack of opportunities to make it to the Manchester City first team, when he was a youth player.
Bellingham is arguably the most highly rated young midfielder in Europe currently, having moved to the Signal Iduna Park from second-tier Birmingham City as what Sky Sports reported to be the “most expensive 17-year-old in history” for an initial £25million.
And Erling Haaland chose BVB as the ideal destination to continue his development when he left Red Bull Salzburg as a teenager, and is now the most sought-after transfer target in football.
With all this in mind, the Germans would undoubtedly be an attractive proposition for Villa’s England under-19 international no matter the proposals his current side put forward.
In other Aston Villa news, Jacob Ramsey deserves an England call-up from Gareth Southgate.