Chelsea are pushing to reshape their attacking lineup for the Premier League season, with Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Man Utd’s Alejandro Garnacho as top targets.
However, their ambitious plans to sign the dynamic duo are facing hurdles, as player sales and valuation disputes threaten to derail the deals.
The Blues have already been active in the transfer market, securing Joao Pedro from Brighton, Liam Delap from Ipswich, Jamie Gittens from Dortmund, and Ajax defender Jorrel Hato. These additions highlight Chelsea’s intent to close the gap on Premier League heavyweights like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City.
Despite their spending, the west London club are not done yet, with manager Enzo Maresca keen to bolster their attacking options further, especially after Levi Colwill’s ACL injury raised concerns about squad depth.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has provided insight into the challenges Chelsea face in landing Simons and Garnacho.
“Xavi Simons wants to go to Chelsea. This is not a mystery. We’ve been saying that for a long time,” Romano said on his YouTube channel. “The reality is that Chelsea need to sell players before signing players like Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons.”
Simons, the 22-year-old Dutch midfielder, has made it clear he prefers a move to Stamford Bridge over interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City. “He made clear to all the other clubs interested in him, he wants to go to Chelsea,” Romano added.
However, RB Leipzig are holding firm on their 60 million pounds valuation for Simons, a figure Chelsea are reluctant to meet, according to German outlet Kicker.
The potential sale of Christopher Nkunku could unlock funds for Simons’ transfer, but negotiations with Bayern Munich have hit a stumbling block.
Romano noted, “Chelsea made clear that they only want Nkunku to leave on a permanent transfer. Bayern want a more creative deal. At the moment, there’s no agreement.” Despite the deadlock, Nkunku remains open to the move, having expressed interest in joining Bayern as early as January.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s pursuit of Garnacho is gaining traction. The 21-year-old Argentine winger has agreed personal terms with the Blues, signaling his desire to leave Manchester United, where he has fallen out of favor under manager Ruben Amorim.
“Garnacho has agreed every detail of personal terms with Chelsea,” Romano confirmed. “He only wants Chelsea.” However, United’s 50 million pounds asking price remains a sticking point, with Chelsea valuing the player closer to 30 million pounds.
Chelsea’s transfer strategy hinges on balancing their squad and finances. The club have already raised over 170 million pounds through sales, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Everton and Armando Broja to Burnley.
Further departures, such as Nicolas Jackson, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, and Renato Veiga, could provide the financial flexibility needed to secure both Simons and Garnacho before the transfer window closes on September 1.
As Chelsea prepare for their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace, the clock is ticking to finalize these high-profile deals. Maresca’s vision of a dynamic, versatile attack is within reach, but only if the Blues can navigate the complexities of player sales and negotiations in the coming weeks.
