Borussia Dortmund are in talks with Chelsea to sign Renato Veiga but the two clubs are still yet to reach an agreement, football.london understands.

The 21-year-old has been a bit-part player for the Blues this season but has been impressive - for the most part - when called upon. Dortmund are the latest club to show an interest in Veiga, who wants to cement a spot in the Portugal squad for next year's World Cup.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez told Veiga recently that he is in contention for a place in the 2026 World Cup squad at the moment. Martinez also said, however, that he would need to play more regular football in order to make sure of a slot, sources have told football.london.

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While Veiga has played 18 times in all competitions for Chelsea this season, only seven of those appearances have come in the Premier League. Only one of those top-flight games have come from the start and Veiga is said to believe the next step in his career would be better suited away from Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca was asked on Monday morning about Dortmund's interest in his left-back and what his future holds. Speaking ahead of the Blues' match with Bournemouth on Tuesday evening, the Italian said: "At the moment, I am not aware that there is an agreement for Renato.

"The only thing I can say is that yesterday he was here working with us, today he will be here with us. At the moment, he is our player. We will see if something happens but he was working yesterday and will work today. I am not aware of any agreement for him."

There is speculation that Veiga sees himself as a centre-back in the long-term and with the imperious Levi Colwill looking like that position on the left-hand side of a back two is his for years to come, there is no wonder the Portugal international is considering a move away. Maresca said: "The only thing I can say is we bought Renato from Basel. He arrived here, played in different positions, played well and this allowed him to join the national team for the first time in his life, senior national team.

"Probably even if he is not playing in his position, if he is playing for the national team, then that probably means that in the position he is playing, he can do well. We are very proud of all our players that can join national teams.

"Especially in this case, with young players of 21 or 22 that join us and start to play in different positions, four or five different positions, that will give him the chance to join the international team. So we are very proud about that."

A loan move was touted from Dortmund's side, but Chelsea would rather sell Veiga if he was to leave this month, football.london understands. There are several clubs in the race to sign Veiga but Dortmund are the clear front-runners at this moment in time, with Chelsea wanting £20million-plus for the defender's services.

Veiga signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge last summer after completing a £12million move from Basel. However, just over six months later, Veiga is already looking to leave the club. He wants to cement a spot in Portugal's World Cup squad in 2026 and believes he will be best served to do that away from west London.

It was Chelsea, though, and Maresca particularly that put Veiga on the map, so to speak. A fairly unknown quantity before arriving in SW6, Veiga is now one of the most sought-after names in this month's transfer window.

"I had the chat with Renato," Maresca continued. "I said to him exactly the same thing as I just said to you in terms of playing in the position he is playing with us and how it gave him the chance to join the international team and also gave him the chance to have speculation around him. That means clubs are probably looking for him and looking for players that are doing well, well with the club and well with the national team.

"If there was a player that just wanted to play in one position, they are going to struggle today. They have to adapt; they have to play in different positions, learn to play in different positions because it is a good thing for the team and for the club."

If Chelsea were to essentially double their money when it comes to Veiga, then that is a success from a business point of view at the very least. If it was in the ballpark of £25million, as numerous outlets have reported, then the hefty sum will be a welcome boost to the Blues as they look to get some business done in terms of incomings.

The centre-back situation is still being considered, football.london understands, with the possibility of recalling Trevoh Chalobah from his loan at Crystal Palace still on the table. As is potentially signing Marc Guehi, however, with the Blues interested in re-signing the 24-year-old who left the club in 2021 for the Eagles.

While the profit is a welcome boost on the financial front, it is far from ideal for Chelsea to lose their deputy left-back midway through the season. Also, Ben Chilwell is very much expected to leave before the end of the transfer window, leaving Marc Cucurella as the only natural senior option at left-back.

It could well force Chelsea to move for a left-sided full-back before the window concludes, although it is not clear what the club's exact plans are just yet. Another option could be to recall Caleb Wiley, who is currently on a season-long loan at Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg.

However, the 20-year-old American is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury that has kept him out for almost two months and there is no clear indication on when he will return to action. Colwill is an option to cover at left-back but the England international's performances in the centre have been so strong this season that it would be a waste of his talents.

Either way, Chelsea have a problem when it comes to the left-back position. While Veiga leaving makes sense on the business side - and it could help with other deals this month, too - it does leave Maresca vulnerable in one area.