Liverpool sent clear transfer message over Luis Diaz 'successor' tearing up Bundesliga

Borussia Dortmund's managing director, Carsten Cramer, said that the club wants to keep Jamie Gittens for as long as possible after he continued his blistering start to the season against Bayern Munich over the weekend.

The 20-year-old has scored eight goals for Dortmund this term, with the latest coming on Sunday, when he picked up the ball in his own half before driving into the Bayern penalty area and finishing past Manuel Neuer.

Gittens' good form has prompted links with a return to England, with German journalist Florian Plettenberg claiming that Liverpool is interested in him, as well as Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.

Reading-born Gittens, an England Under-21 international, is contracted to Dortmund until 2028 and is reported to have no immediate desire to leave Dortmund, but does see himself ending up back in the Premier League.

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Dortmund has an excellent record for developing youngsters, notably blooding the likes of Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho in recent years, and it is Cramer's intention for Gittens' progress to be managed by Dortmund for the foreseeable future.

“He is very important, right now he is one of our players who makes the difference,” Cramer told Anfield Watch. “Even if we had some problems on the pitch, he can be a difference-maker through his individual quality.

“He had some bad luck with injuries, but he’s really focused. He’s a Dortmund guy. When we convinced him to sign, we had a good example from former players like Bellingham and Sancho, but not only the English ones, but others. The young ones know they will receive minutes on the pitch and that Dortmund is an excellent platform.

“It is our ambition to keep these players with us for as long as possible. It’s not our aim to make as much money as quickly as possible. He is a player who makes a difference. But he’s also a player who can be a good example to other young players that Dortmund gives you the time to develop yourself and educate yourself even if you are struggling with injuries.

“We are very, very happy to have him here. Happy with how he’s playing, how he’s behaving. He’s so humble. He’s a perfect Dortmund guy.”

Gittens' price tag could prove to be a sticking point for any club looking to sign him, with Plettenburg claiming that Dortmund is seeking $105million for the left-winger.