Xavi Simons could have his wish to become a member of a Premier League team granted by Chelsea, although they cannot offer him the perfect welcome gift because of their previous summer expenditure
Xavi Simons will have to reconsider his shirt number if he joins Chelsea while his favorites are included. Almost a decade after the blues first showed interest in the Dutchman when he was only 12 years old, they ruled their pursuit.
According to Football.London, Stamford Bridge Chiefs are currently in discussion with its representatives about a possible step. Enzo Maresca has focused on reforming his forward line this summer.
The interest in the Dutchman comes a matter of weeks after Noni Madueke came to Arsenal in a deal with a value of around £ 52 million. However, if Chelsea succeeds in bridging rivals such as the Gunners for Simons' services, there is one thing that they cannot offer him.
The RB Leipzig playmaker will have to settle for another number than he is used to. During his career, Simons attracted no. 7, no. 9, no. 10 and no. 20 shirts.
Unfortunately for him, none of those figures are currently available on Stamford Bridge. The No. 9 and no. 20 shirts have recently been assigned to new attackers Liam Delap and Joao Pedro respectively.
They joined the city of Ipswich and Brighton and Hove Albion for a combined £ 90 million, with Pedro Chelsea cost a good £ 60 million. Moreover, the number 7 is currently being worn by Pedro Neto, while the number 10 was given to Cole Palmer prior to the FIFA Club World Cup.
Pedro and Delap, who together contributed four goals and one assist during the successful Club World Cup campaign from Chelsea, are accompanied by colleague attacker Jamie Gittens, as well as Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez, whose deals had already been completed before this summer.
Simons and his representatives are supposed to have had conversations with Chelsea with regard to personal conditions. The versatile midfielder, who has previously played for the Barcelona Academy and Paris Saint Germain, can operate both behind rush hour and both wings.
According to Talksport, the West -London club is willing to increase £ 60 million to lure him to Stamford Bridge. The Dutch International has leveled his trade in the Red Bull Arena since the summer of 2023, but only switched to the Bundesliga outfit of PSG in January in January.
He had been on loan for the past 18 months, but Leipzig has selected £ 43 million to secure his services full -time in January. However, it is clear that the deal also includes potential add-ons for no less than £ 27 million.
This figure can be considerably reduced if they manage to discharge it. Last season Simons noted 11 goals and eight assists in 33 performances for Leipzig.
He also earned 28 caps for the Netherlands and scored five goals, including a spectacular effort against England in the semi -final of the Euro 2024. In addition to Simons, Chelsea is reportedly looking at Manchester United -Vleugel player Alejandro Garnacho.
The Telegraph reports that Blues boss Maresca would like to sign the Argentinian, which was left out of the United team for their tours for the season by the US. At the end of the season, Garnacho openly criticized Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim to exclude him from the starting line-up in the definitive loss of the Europa League against Tottenham Hotspur, so that their already damaged relationship was further broken.