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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Sam Tabuteau

Xavi Simons: Chelsea transfer target named in RB Leipzig training camp squad amid talks over personal terms

Xavi Simons has been named in RB Leipzig's training camp squad amidst speculation around his future.

The Dutch midfielder, who will travel with Leipzig to the Black Forest in Germany, is the subject of interest from Chelsea, with the player in direct talks with the Blues over personal terms.

Chelsea have already bolstered their attacking options this summer with the arrivals of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens; whilst Brazilian teenager Estevao Willian is also joining the club ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Chelsea, though, are still keen to add more attacking talent to their squad in light of the £52 million departure of Noni Madueke to Arsenal.

The Blues have identified Simons, who shares the same agency as Madueke, as a target after the 22-year-old scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in all competitions last season.

Simons has long been heralded as one of the brightest talents in Europe after breaking through at Barcelona's famed La Masia academy before stints with Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig.

A versatile attacker who can play both as a No10 and a winger, Simons would provide pace and creativity to Chelsea's frontline, as well as adding depth to Enzo Maresca's side ahead of a busy season.

Chelsea won the Club World Cup earlier this month, bringing to an end their 2024/25 campaign nearly a year after it started.

The Blues aren't going on a pre-season tour due to their involvement in the Club World Cup, and their scaled-back preparations for next season mean they will be reliant on a big squad to ensure they don't suffer from fatigue mid-season.

Xavi Simons has been linked with an RB Leipzig exit this summer (Getty Images)

Simons has spent the last two seasons on loan at Leipzig from PSG. Leipzig, though, cut that second loan short by signing the Dutchman permanently in January for an initial £43m fee.

That also included add-ons worth up to £27m, but if he leaves Leipzig this summer, they will owe PSG significantly less of those add-ons.

PSG have a sell-on clause inserted into Simons's Leipzig contract, which runs until June 2027.

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