Chelsea have been extremely active in the transfer market so far this summer and although they are now focused on player sales, the recruitment team at Stamford Bridge have initiated talks to sign Xavi Simons.
The Netherlands international joined RB Leipzig on a permanent deal in January, following a successful 18-month loan spell with the club, but he is already pushing to leave the Bundesliga outfit in search of a new opportunity.
Chelsea have held direct talks with Simons’ representatives, according to multiple reports, as they gauge the possibility of a summer transfer, while the Blues are now in negotiations with RB Leipzig.
But, do Chelsea really need to sign Simons this summer?
Xavi Simons to join Chelsea?
Chelsea have already spent €243.8 million on seven new signings so far this summer, but the sale of Noni Madueke to Arsenal has led to talk of another attacker being added.
The Blues have shortlisted Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze and Simons as key targets, as per reports, while Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho remains an option too.
In Rogers, Eze and Simons, Chelsea are clearly targeting a specific signing: a creative attacking midfielder capable of playing on the left flank.
All three players are arguably best when deployed in a central position, but they are equally dangerous in a wide position if they are given license to drift infield.
Jamie Gittens has arrived as the touchline left winger that Maresca demanded, however Chelsea’s pursuit of the aforementioned three players prove the Italian also wants an alternative option at his disposal.
Although he was fairly regimented with his tactics during his debut season at Stamford Bridge, Maresca showed immense flexibility at the Club World Cup and it resulted in Chelsea eventually lifting the trophy.
As a result, it’s likely he will implement a similar level of versatility next season. Chelsea’s system will change on a far more frequent basis and a player like Simons could fit in perfectly.
If Maresca wants to utilise an out-and-out winger on the left flank, Gittens stands out as the clear choice, while adding Simons into the mix would enable the Chelsea boss to deploy Marc Cucurella in an overlapping full-back role, with the Dutchman drifting inside from the left to link up with Cole Palmer.
In that sense, signing Simons makes perfect sense. RB Leipzig’s asking price of €65 million is also extremely reasonable – given his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €67.5m – and he has several years of reliable output in the bank.
Simons has 21 goals and 23 assists in 76 appearances for Leipzig, and at just 22 years old, he has the potential to become a world-class attacking midfielder.
However, there is a real concern that he could become the next Joao Felix at Chelsea. The Portugal international returned to Stamford Bridge amid much fanfare last summer, but he failed to usurp Palmer in Maresca’s preferred team and he was sent on loan to AC Milan in January after racking up just three Premier League starts.
As a player who also works best in a No.10 role, like Felix, Simons could be set to follow suit.
However, the Netherlands is more likely to be used as a winger than Felix and this could be his saving grace. It’s improbable that Simons will become Chelsea’s first-choice attacking midfielder if he joins, but he could improve their depth on the left flank and he is therefore somewhat unlikely to follow in Felix’s footsteps.
Despite this, Chelsea must prioritise player sales before they seriously pursue a move for Simons.
Carney Chukwuemeka, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja, David Datro Fofana and the aforementioned Felix have all been deemed surplus to requirements by Maresca, but Chelsea are yet to find suitors.
Adding another attacker to their ranks would therefore be foolish until they are able to trim down the excess of forwards already at the club.
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