Chelsea ambition to add one final marquee signing before the close of the summer transfer window has led them to Xavi Simons, but RB Leipzig are refusing to make things easy.
The 22-year-old Dutch winger, who has already agreed personal terms with the Club World Cup champions, is eager to complete his move to Stamford Bridge. However, Leipzig’s €70 million (£60.4m) valuation remains a major stumbling block, and with just a week left before the deadline, the saga could go down to the wire.
Leipzig Refuse to Be Pressured
Despite strong interest from Chelsea, RB Leipzig have publicly insisted that they will not be pressured into selling Simons unless all “economic aspects” are right. Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff made it clear in an interview with Kicker that while discussions with interested clubs are ongoing, any transfer must be the right fit for everyone involved.
“There are certainly discussions and interested parties, of course, but it has to be a good fit for all parties,” Mintzlaff said. “If that happens, then there could still be a departure. And if that doesn’t happen, then Xavi Simons is RB Leipzig’s player this season.”
Sporting director Marcel Schäfer echoed the sentiment, stressing that while Leipzig are open to allowing players to “take the next step,” Chelsea are still some way off agreeing terms.
A Player in Demand
Simons, who previously featured for Paris Saint-Germain and PSV Eindhoven, has quickly become one of Europe’s brightest attacking prospects. His creativity, pace, and versatility across the front line have made him a key figure at Leipzig, where he still has two years left on his contract.
Yet, speculation over his future has intensified, particularly after Chelsea’s determined push to secure his signature. Reports suggest that the Blues may even need to offload Christopher Nkunku to make room for Simons in Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad.
A Difficult Start for Leipzig
The uncertainty comes at a tricky time for Leipzig, who opened their Bundesliga campaign with a crushing 6-0 defeat to Bayern Munich. Simons started the match but was unable to prevent his side from being overrun at the Allianz Arena.
Mintzlaff admitted the performance was far from acceptable and urged the team to respond quickly when they host Heidenheim this weekend. Still, the transfer noise surrounding Simons threatens to linger in the dressing room as the deadline approaches.
Chelsea’s Next Move
For Chelsea, Simons is seen as the final piece of their transfer puzzle this summer. The Blues have already invested heavily in reshaping their squad, and adding a player of Simons’ profile would further enhance their attacking options. However, unless they meet Leipzig’s valuation—or structure a deal that satisfies all parties—the move could stall.
With the clock ticking, Chelsea must decide whether to push forward with a substantial bid or risk seeing Simons remain in Germany for another season. For now, Leipzig hold the stronger hand, and their stance suggests this saga is far from finished.
