Chelsea's hopes of recruiting Xavi Simons may have gone up in smoke, as RB Leipzig has been not interested in the player exchange plan.
The Dutch star has long been rumored to be moving to the Premier League, as some teams alongside Chelsea have previously considered this possibility. Leipzig's failure to qualify for next season's European Cup could be a reason for Simons to consider leaving the team.
Enzo Maresca's side are in a vibrant transition period after qualifying back to the Champions League. Estevao Willian has finally completed a transfer deal from Palmeiras, while Liam Delap and Joao Pedro also arrived at Stamford Bridge to strengthen the attack.
The Blues are said to have offered four players to the German side as part of a Xavi Simons exchange deal. One of them is Christopher Nkunku - who played impressively at Leipzig before suffering an injury while playing for the London team.
Other names proposed by Chelsea include Tyrique George, Armando Broja and Carney Chukwuemeka. However, according to British media, none of them are in the vision of the team led by coach Ole Werner.
Xavi Simons played for PSV Eindhoven and Paris St-Germain before joining RB Leipzig - initially on loan, then officially. The 22-year-old ended last season with 10 goals and 7 assists in the Bundesliga, in the context of Leipzig dropping out of the European Cup when they only finished in seventh place.
Another turbulent summer has come for Stamford Bridge. The Blues have spent more than £200 million to sign new signings, including Jamie Gittens - the next top player from the Bundesliga, after completing a transfer deal from Dortmund. In parallel, Chelsea also earned huge profits from player sales.
Noni Madueke's £48 million move to Arsenal has been one of the most famous deals this summer. In addition to other notable contracts such as Joao Felix and Djordje Petrovic with significant fees.
In addition, Maresca's side have also sold or loaned to Strasbourg a number of players, including Kendry Paez, who has just completed a season-long loan deal.
There may be many new players coming to Chelsea, even if Xavi Simons remains in the Bundesliga. PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been linked with the Blues as his future remains uncertain.
The Blues have just won the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the US. The victory over PSG in the final not only brought the title but also brought a huge profit to the club. Chelsea will continue their preparation journey with 2 friendly matches before the new season.
The 2025-2026 Premier League season will officially kick off, when Maresca's team will host Crystal Palace at home on August 17.
