Chelsea transfer target Xavi Simons has reportedly communicated to RB Leipzig his desire to leave for Stamford Bridge, resulting in his exclusion from the squad for a friendly match against Atalanta. The Club World Cup winners are nearing a £60million deal, yet the Dutch midfielder has been unable to finalize the transfer.
Positive discussions have been ongoing, with Chelsea having reached an agreement on personal terms with the 22-year-old. However, they have not yet made an official bid as they are waiting for player sales to help finance the move. Joao Felix’s recent transfer to Al-Nassr for £43.7m is expected to alleviate some of the financial burden.
Simons has made his intentions clear to Leipzig and, despite not being injured, he was left out of the match against Atalanta. Notably absent as well is Benjamin Sesko, amid interest from Newcastle and Manchester United.
Publicly, Xavi Simons has hinted that he envisions his future away from Leipzig. He has removed all mentions of the club from his social media accounts, focusing instead on his role as a UNICEF ambassador and his Puma sponsorship.
Further player sales may be essential for Chelsea to secure Xavi Simons, especially with Arsenal also expressing interest. Chelsea is open to selling Nicolas Jackson for £80m, with clubs like Manchester United, Newcastle, and Aston Villa showing interest, and they are exploring potential swap deals for winger Alejandro Garnacho.
Armando Broja is reportedly in advanced negotiations for a permanent move to Burnley, where he has previously been loaned out after struggling with injuries.
Although a loan to Fulham was discussed, Chelsea prefers a permanent sale following Dewsbury-Hall’s impressive displays at the Club World Cup.
Should these four players depart, Chelsea will be in a significantly stronger financial position to bring Simons in, especially given the lengths the player has gone to in order to facilitate his move.
