Chelsea are pushing ahead in negotiations with RB Leipzig to sign Dutch star Xavi Simons, with the 22-year-old having already agreed to personal terms.
While some had speculated about a direct swap involving Christopher Nkunku, Softfootball understands that the two deals are being handled separately. Discussions over Nkunku potentially returning to Leipzig exist, but only as a loan option and not as part of the Simons transfer.
German journalist Florian Plettenberg reported that Bayern Munich have stepped away from the race due to the overall cost of the deal.
He also noted that Simons remains set on joining Chelsea and is waiting for the club to complete player sales before finalising the move. Leipzig are open to taking Nkunku on loan, but Chelsea are first focused on generating funds.
He posted on his official X account:
“Xavi Simons has already agreed full terms with Chelsea and is still willing to join #CFC, waiting patiently. Chelsea are still signalling that they want to finalise the Xavi deal but first need further player offloads.
A swap deal involving Christopher #Nkunku is currently not being discussed. RB are open to a Nkunku loan. The total Xavi package is currently too expensive for FC Bayern.”
Sources suggest Chelsea are ready to offload attackers such as Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson to help finance the signing. Jackson is understood to have requested a move, with Newcastle showing interest in a deal.
The overall package for Simons is thought to be worth around €70 million (£61m), a figure Bayern Munich view as too high despite their admiration for the player.
Nkunku is reportedly not keen on joining a club competing in a lower-tier European competition, adding another layer of complexity to Leipzig’s loan interest.
For Chelsea, however, the main priority is clear, secure Simons as quickly as possible. With sales in motion and talks advancing, the Blues believe they are edging closer to getting the deal over the line.
