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(Credit: Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Mon 11 August 2025 18:18, UK

Xavi Simons could be set to continue a concerning trend as Chelsea step up their pursuit to sign the RB Leipzig midfielder.

Chelsea have done business with the German club before which hasn’t always proved successful, and they face a similar fate if they purchase attacker Simons this summer.

The Blues have signed relative flops Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig in the past, with both striker’s failing to make a proper impact at Stamford Bridge, with the former departing after only two seasons.

After going back to RB Leipzig Werner had an unsuccessful spell at Spurs, and has since returned again where Nkunku could join him to reignite his career.

Nkunku wants to return to RB Leipzig.

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The Bundesliga outfit are searching for a replacement for striker Benjamin Sesko, whom RB Leipzig sold to Manchester United this summer.

As per The Athletic [11 August], Nkunku is open to returning to former club RB Leipzig this summer, and The Guardian report [11 August] that the forward could be included in a deal to sign midfielder Xavi Simons from the Bundesliga club.

Simons has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea despite Bayern Munich’s interest in the 22-year-old.

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Chelsea would have to pay a “sizeable fee” to land Simons on top of Nkunku’s value, though they price him at £40million.

As exclusively revealed by Football Insider in July Simons has told RB Leipzig he wants to leave the club with Chelsea and their Premier League rivals Arsenal expressing an interest.

The Dutch attacking midfielder is not a priority for Enzo Maresca as he already has the influential Cole Palmer in the number 10 role.

(Credit: Imago)

Simons suffered an ankle injury last season which forced him to miss a chunk of the campaign, but when he was available he was a regular starter for RB Leipzig.

He will not want to move to the Premier League to sit on the bench and that could lead to a frustrating period in his career, similar to that of Werner and Nkunku.

The 27-year-old arrived at Chelsea with promise having enjoyed a successful spell in Germany, but his time in England was quickly curtailed by injury and his goal-scoring form has ultimately not arrived in the Premier League.

Simons could follow a similar path if things don’t go to plan early and his talent could potentially be better used elsewhere, although RB Leipzig’s failure to qualify for European football this season is why the midfielder wants out of the club.

Chelsea could better spend their remaining transfer funds this summer on a new centre-back, following a long-term injury to Levi Colwill, or a goalkeeper with Robert Sanchez sometimes a liability in-between the sticks.

Simons could prove to be another waste of transfer funds, with RB Leipzig again profiting financially from doing business with Chelsea.

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