Inside Xavi Simons transfer talks as Chelsea reality clear with £43.7m boost

Chelsea will continue talks with RB Leipzig this week as the Blues look to wrap up a deal to sign Xavi Simons, football.london understands.

Seven days ago, Chelsea opened talks with the 22-year-old's representatives over a possible move to Stamford Bridge. Since, the Blues have a broad agreement in place with Simons and his entourage but no deal has been struck just yet with Leipzig. While the German club are open to selling Simons, one of their star attacking players, they will hold out for what they believe to be a suitable fee.

Talks between Chelsea and Leipzig are progressing well, football.london discovered over the weekend, and things are set to heat up over the next few days. With Chelsea agreeing a deal with Al-Nassr for the sale of Joao Felix for a total package of €50million (£43.7million), the Blues have essentially been given the green light to push forward in their pursuit of Simons.

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Chelsea are yet to submit an official offer for the Netherlands international as talks continue over the finances involved in a possible deal. However, Leipzig are braced for just that as the Blues look to bolster Enzo Maresca's attacking options for the upcoming season - that kicks off in less than three weeks' time.

Simons is currently with the Leipzig squad as they continue their pre-season preparations, with the Dutchman providing two assists in the Bundesliga side's 7-0 win over Toulouse over the weekend. Whether or not he will be involved in Leipzig's next game - another pre-season friendly - against Atalanta this coming weekend remains to be seen.

Elsewhere, the Blues remain in talks with Ajax over a move for teenage defender Jorrel Hato. Talks between Chelsea and the Dutch club advanced towards the end of last week with the 19-year-old wanting the move to Stamford Bridge. Hato has already informed Ajax of his desire to leave and he was left out of the squad for the pre-season friendly against Celtic last week.

At the moment, Chelsea and Ajax are a bit off in their valuations of the defender, who can operate in the centre or at left-back. The Blues, though, will be hoping the two clubs can reach a compromise in the coming days in order to speed the deal up.