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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dom Smith

Chelsea pause Alejandro Garnacho and Xaxi Simons talks to prioritise clear-out

Targets: Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho - (London Standard)

Chelsea have put summer moves for Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons on hold as they prioritise a final-week push in their bumper summer of sales.

Garnacho and Simons want to move to Stamford Bridge, and the deals remain alive, but the Blues believe both signings can be completed in the final days of the window and are prioritising sales first.

The total amount of money raised through sales this summer has reached £270million over the weekend as Chelsea agreed to sell Carney Chukwuemeka to Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth up to £24m. Chukwuemeka will be joined at Dortmund by Aaron Anselmino, who has agreed a season-long loan.

LIVE BLOG: All the latest transfer news and rumours

Chelsea have been trimming their bloated squad with a mixture of loans and profitable sales.

Nicolas Jackson has a number of suitors and is the most valuable player Chelsea are hoping to shift before the September 1 deadline.

Talks: Nicolas Jackson (AFP via Getty Images)

The striker is liked by Newcastle and Bayern Munich, and Chelsea value him at £80m but would consider a loan with an obligation to buy.

Bayern, who are in the market for attackers in the final days of the window, also hold an interest in Christopher Nkunku. Chelsea value the Frenchman at £43m and will only consider a permanent sale.

Academy product Tyrique George could also leave this summer due to increased competition in his position, and is attracting interest from Roma.

Jackson, Nkunku and George remain with the first-team squad despite uncertainty over their futures, while other players Chelsea are working to move on in the coming days - dubbed the ‘bomb squad’ - continue to train in a separate group.

Outcast: Raheem Sterling (Getty Images)

Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, David Datro Fofana and Alfie Gilchrist are all available before Monday’s 7pm deadline.

Sterling and Chilwell have long been frozen out at Chelsea and are on high wages, so there is an acceptance that options are limited and that avenues for the ex-England pair to exit the club may only emerge on deadline day.

Bournemouth have a strong interest in centre-back Disasi, whose preference is to stay in the Premier League.

A permanent sale was initially the plan for Gilchrist, but, failing that, he will be loaned out, with a host of Championship clubs open to bringing him in for the season.

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