(Credit: Getty Images/Imago)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Sat 16 August 2025 7:40, UK

Chelsea face competition in their efforts to sign Xavi Simons as Manchester City “clear the decks” in a bid to bring him to the Etihad Stadium, sources have told Football Insider.

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Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what sources have told him about City and Chelsea‘s interest in the Dutch playmaker.

Enzo Maresca‘s side “are in the box seat” to sign Simons this summer and Chelsea fans are convinced that Simons will move to Stamford Bridge, but Pep Guardiola is also an admirer of the RB Leipzig star.

Football Insider revealed last month that Simons has told RB Leipzig that he wants to leave this summer, with a £60million price tag mooted with Chelsea potentially set to close in on another big-money deal.

Xavi Simons looks set to leave RB Leipzig this summer (Credit: Imago)

However, sources have told Football Insider that Man City are “clearing the decks” to line up a late bid for Simons, with James McAtee and Savinho potentially set to follow Jack Grealish out the exit door.

Grealish‘s loan to Everton could be the first domino to fall as Guardiola cuts down his squad’s size to free up a bid for Simons, but sources have told Football Insider that Chelsea are still favourites to sign him.

Harvey Elliott’s potential move to RB Leipzig could see him become the Bundesliga side’s replacement for Simons, but it remains to be seen if Man City can clear enough space for him before Chelsea do.

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Speaking on the new Inside Track podcast, O’Rourke was asked about Man City’s interest in Simons this summer, with a late hijack potentially on the cards for a deal which Chelsea are still in the driving seat for.

“Chelsea, I believe, are in the box seat for Xavi Simons”, he told Football Insider.

“I fully expect Simons to leave RB Leipzig this summer, and Man City do appear to be clearing the decks.

Grealish’s Everton move could pave the way for Man City to sign Simons (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

“Jack Grealish has gone, James McAtee is on the move, and possibly Savinho – they [Man City] will be looking at options in the market.

“Xavi Simons is somebody who is seemingly available.

A Man City hijack is certainly on the cards.”

Chelsea and RB Leipzig may be set to agree a player-plus-cash move for Simons involving Stamford Bridge youngster Tyrique George, but Man City will remain hopeful they can sign him until a deal is done.

Enzo Maresca’s side are long-time admirers of Xavi Simons (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Guardiola may see Simons as a like-for-like replacement for Savinho, who favours a move to Tottenham after the North Londoners’ transfer bid which was rejected by Man City as they hold out for £50m.

Chelsea may have tracked Simons throughout this summer, but the longer they delay completing the 22-year-old’s arrival this summer, Guardiola’s confidence in a potential Man City hijack will only grow.

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