Chelsea’s pursuit of Xavi Simons has reportedly hit a roadblock, with RB Leipzig refusing to accept any Blues players as part of a swap deal. The German club is holding firm on a £60 million price tag for the Dutch star. Talks are ongoing as Simons looks to leave after the Bundesliga side missed out on Champions League football for the upcoming season.
- Chelsea’s swap deal for Simons hits major roadblock
- RB Leipzig demand £60m — reject all swap offers
- Agent Ali Barat working to unlock transfer breakthrough
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WHAT HAPPENED?
As per The Sun, Chelsea have offered multiple players in exchange for Simons, including Armando Broja and Carney Chukwuemeka. However, RB Leipzig are only interested in a cash deal worth £60m ($79m) for the Dutch international. Agent Ali Barat, who has good relations with Chelsea, is said to be working behind the scenes to try and rescue the transfer.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Simons joined RB Leipzig permanently from Paris Saint-Germain in January after a loan stint with the Bundesliga side. His decision to leave comes after Leipzig failed to secure Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, are making other moves in the market, sending Kendry Paez, Mike Penders, and Marc Guiu out on loan to open up the budget to sign Simons.
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DID YOU KNOW?
RB Leipzig paid a club-record £43m for Simons, with add-ons potentially raising the deal to £70m. As such, Die Roten Bullen are not ready to sell the Dutchman for less than £60m. The Blues still view Simons as a priority target for the summer, despite the recent setback.
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WHAT NEXT FOR SIMONS?
Negotiations are expected to continue as Chelsea weigh up whether to meet RB Leipzig’s asking price for Simons. The Blues could return with a fresh offer later in the window if Barat finds a breakthrough. Meanwhile, other midfield options may be explored as a backup plan.
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