Chelsea activate break clause to RECALL £15m star from Borussia Dortmund loan – and mark sale of one of their players as ‘impossible’

Chelsea are recalling Aaron Anselmino from his loan to Borussia Dortmund as they work on their centre back situation in the January transfer window.

Anselmino, 20, moved to the Bundesliga in the summer but Chelsea retained a release clause in his season-long loan deal.

The Blues are now bringing the former Boca Juniors centre back, who only has one appearance for the club as a substitute in last summer’s Club World Cup, back as they work out their plans at centre back this month.

Enzo Maresca complained about a lack of centre back depth earlier this season before he left the club. Chelsea now have the Argentine, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Jorrel Hato as options. Mamadou Sarr is on loan with a similar break clause option and Levi Colwill remains injured.

Chelsea view Josh Acheampong, 19, as ‘impossible’ to sell this month. The academy centre back, who has been utilised more often at right back, has interest from both Crystal Palace and Bayern Munich.

Anselmino has played 10 times for Dortmund on loan but has generally been liked by the club’s management and fans during his brief spell in Germany.

‘He really does very well when he plays,’ manager Niko Kovac said last month. ‘He had a bit of bad luck, after his really very good debut, he had a few problems.

‘He needed a little time, but you can rely on that young man from the first minute to the last. A great lad, but also a great defender.’

Kovac had earlier talked of how Anselmino had played a ‘world class’ game on his debut against Union Berlin in September.