Chelsea are reportedly now just days away from completing the signing of RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons.
The Blues have been in talks with the Dutchman’s camp for weeks and are believed to have already agreed personal terms.
But Leipzig are yet to receive a bid from the Club World Cup Champions for Simons, who is valued at around £60million by the Bundesliga side.
It seems an offer is now imminent however, with Chelsea hopeful of completing a deal for the highly-rated 22-year-old after the beginning of the German top-flight this weekend.
Simons’ last appearance for Leipzig is set to come on Friday at the Allianz Arena against Bayern Munich, according to Florian Plettenberg, then the transfer will likely be completed.
The former Barcelona wonderkid, who netted 10 league goals last season, is thought to be keen on a move to Enzo Maresca’s side.
Chelsea are reportedly now just days away from completing a deal to sign RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons
The 22-year-old is likely to play his final game for the German club when they play Bayern Munich on Friday
Personal terms are understood to have already been agreed between the Blues and the Dutchman
If the move does indeed come off, Simons will face fierce competition for his place when he arrives at Stamford Bridge.
Despite already boasting Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto and youngster Tyrique George on the wing, the Blues have strengthened their frontline this summer with the signings of Jamie Gittens and the promising Estevao.
And they’re also working on a deal to bring in Manchester United outcast Alejandro Garnacho after he was told to find himself a new club by Ruben Amorim.
The Argentine, 21, is understood to have agreed personal teams with Chelsea but there remains a gap in the two clubs’ valuation of him.
The Blues will likely have to chop players from their bloated squad before they splash out the £60m United desire for Garnacho.
Todd Boehly and co are reportedly working on doing just that, with up to nine players at risk of being sold by Chelsea before the transfer window closes early next month.
It’s thought the club are trying to arrange sales or loans for Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Renato Veiga, Alex Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Tyrique George and Raheem Sterling.
Following an underwhelming loan spell at Arsenal last term, Sterling is said to be keen on a permanent move away from the club but his £325,000-a-week contract is proving to be something of a stumbling block in transfer negotiations.
Meanwhile Chelsea are also working on a deal to bring in Man United outcast Alejandro Garnacho
The Blues were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the Premier League season
Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Ham United are all interested in securing his signature, with the former England international favouring a move to a London-based club.
Chelsea began their Premier League campaign last weekend with a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge against Palace, who had an Eberechi Eze free-kick disallowed in the first half by VAR.
After the match, Enzo Maresca was critical of his side’s toothless performance.
‘We could have counter attacked better, we could have defended better, but it is only the first game of the season,’ he said. ‘For sure, slowly, slowly, we’re going to be better.
‘They (Palace) played about eight games (in pre-season). We played just two. We tried our best. We didn’t lose a clean sheet.’
The Blues travel east to face West Ham in a London derby on Friday evening.
