Chelsea Nears £60m Deal for Xavi Simons, Eyes Man United Winger

Chelsea are nearing a deal to sign RB Leipzig's 22-year-old midfielder Xavi Simons, with talks reportedly close to a verbal agreement although the official bid is pending as the club aims to offload players first. Simons, once a Barcelona wonderkid, is expected to leave Leipzig following their failure to qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea's interest in Simons is separate from their pursuit of Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho, who has made Chelsea his priority after a fallout at his current club. The Blues face a crowded attacking lineup and need to free up space by potentially selling players like Christopher Nkunku and Raheem Sterling, while also valuing Nicolas Jackson highly amid interest from other clubs. Simons' recent social media activity, including removing RB Leipzig from his Instagram bio, has fueled speculation about the imminent move, which insiders estimate has about a 75% chance of completion soon. Chelsea's manager Enzo Maresca views Simons as a versatile attacking option, adding to a growing list of young talents joining the club this summer.