Report: Dortmund not planning to sign Chelsea loanee permanently | OneFootball

After joining Borussia Dortmund on loan from Chelsea in the winter, Carney Chukwuemeka is yet to make his first start for the Bundesliga outfit, with a string of injuries hampering his progress.

According to Ruhr Nachrichten, Borussia Dortmund have no plans to activate the €35 million release clause included in the deal.

However, an extension of the loan deal is a possibility depending on how the rest of the season goes for the 21-year-old midfielder.

Speaking ahead of Dortmund's 2-0 defeat at RB Leipzig, head coach Niko Kovac said he'd like to see Chukwuemeka's role gradually increase.

“We have to build him up step by step, which means 10, 15, 20 minutes, maybe even half an hour. That's what's possible at the moment,” Kovac said, adding:

“But I would like him to be able to play for longer periods at the end of the season.”