Chelsea have been warned not to trigger the release clause of Aaron Anselmino, who is on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
The 20-year-old signed with Boca Juniors in 2024 but arrived at Stamford Bridge permanently this year after remaining on loan with the Argentine giants.
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The £15.6million centre-back made his debut for the Blues at the FIFA Club World Cup when he came on as a substitute in the round of 16 against Benfica.
And after this tournament, which the Blues won with a final win against Paris Saint-Germain, Anselmino was then loaned out to the Bundesliga club.
At Dortmund he made nine appearances across all competitions, scoring once in the league and assisting once in the Champions League.
However, injuries prevented him from playing more often at the Westfalenstadion.
His lack of minutes, although not Dortmund’s fault, means Chelsea now have a chance of bringing him back to Stamford Bridge.
Anselmino transfer recall
A “previously unknown clause” was included in the deal which meant he could be recalled if he did not play enough.
Manager Niko Kovac doesn’t see this as a problem.
“Everything is settled with Chelsea,” he said a month ago.
“He is our player and I expect him to remain so until the end of the season.”
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However, the Blues could still pull off a surprise move and bring him home.
But European football expert Andy Brassell insists this would be foolish for Chelsea and the player given his influence in Germany so far.
Anselmino loan
“You can [recall him] next month,” he told The Pitch Prospect.com. “So far it’s mainly been injuries that have affected him.”
“Considering he is a very young defender who has adapted to first team football and first team football at an elite club abroad, Anselmino has massively impressed everyone he worked with at Dortmund.”
“If he is fit he would be in the first eleven at the moment, especially considering that Ramy Bensebaini is of course with Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.”
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“I think as soon as he walked in the door I thought he was one of those loan players that you watch.”
“They say you should never fall in love with a loan player. I think a lot of people at Dortmund looked at him from the start and thought: ‘Yeah, that’s a guy we’d like to have for a few years.’
“Realistically that’s probably not the case. But if I were Chelsea I would leave him where he is.”
“I think if you look at the end of this season, Dortmund are eliminated from the DFB Cup, but they will progress in the Champions League, either in the top 8 or in the top 24. They will still have a lot of big games to play until the end of the season. And he will be allowed to play. I have no doubt about that.”
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“They were in a situation where they suffered a lot of defensive injuries. Even in January, Bensebaini will still be out. Who knows what condition Waldemar Anton and Niklas Süle will be in, who we know will also leave the club.”
“They played well at the weekend because they had to take advantage [Sule] to fill a gap against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Anselmino will do it. I think someone who is physically fit but also wants to pass the ball. In the long term I really see him in the Premier League.
“So I think Chelsea, and maybe him depending on how he feels about it, just need to be a little patient here.”
“I think if they keep him in Dortmund he will probably play 15 more games until the end of the season.”
“Given that he is a young man with relatively little experience at the highest level, I think this is a great opportunity for him.”
“And being surrounded by a coaching team that values physical effort and discipline and covering every blade of grass, which Niko Kovac and his people are, I think would be a huge advantage for him.”
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“So Chelsea could obviously call it off. I’m not sure that’s hugely beneficial for the player.”