Xavi Simons’ transfer move to Chelsea could hinge on Christopher Nkunku leaving the club for Bayern Munich, according to reports in France.
Nkunku, 27, is deemed surplus to requirements this summer and Bayern have been pushing to sign the 27-year-old Chelsea attacker on loan for the 2025/26 season.
However, the Blues, at this stage, are insistent that Nkunku must depart on a permanent basis, leaving the France international in a state of limbo at the start of the new campaign.
While Nkunku bounced back from an injury-hit debut season to score 15 goals in all competitions last term, the forward is said to be desperate to resolve his future and secure a switch to the Bundesliga champions as quickly as possible.
RMC Sport report that ‘time is running out’ on Nkunku joining Bayern and the delicate situation is ‘blocking’ Simons’ potential arrival in west London. It’s claimed the 22-year-old Dutchman is trying to remain ‘calm’ as he waits for his future to be settled, with just a week-and-a-half left until the transfer deadline.
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Simons has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea, but must wait until a spot becomes available in Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad, with the Club World Cup winners already investing heavily in new recruits across a busy transfer window.
Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Estevao, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Simons’ fellow countryman Jorrel Hato have all signed on the dotted line at Stamford Bridge in recent weeks and months.
It’s understood RB Leipzig are demanding a fee in the region of €70million (£60.7m) for their prized possession, who racked up ten goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga last season.
Although his future remains uncertain, Simons was able to block out the noise to start RB Leipzig’s opening top-flight clash with Bayern Munich on Friday evening.
It proved a night to forget for Simons and RB Leipzig, though, with hosts Bayern running out 6-0 victors to get their title defence off to the perfect start at a bouncing Allianz Arena.
The Netherlands winger, previously of Paris Saint-Germain and PSV Eindhoven, has two years remaining on his current contract with RB Leipzig.
Nicolas Jackson is another Chelsea player facing an uncertain future this summer and Maresca has confirmed that he will not call upon the Senegal striker while he is in talks to leave the club.
Aston Villa and Newcastle have been been credited with a strong interest in signing Jackson as they scour the market for attacking reinforcements with ten days remaining of the window.
‘He is available but he is not going to be part of the squad,’ Maresca said of Jackson ahead of Chelsea’s clash with West Ham.
‘As we already said, we have two strikers, two players in that position, and also we know that something can happen before the transfer window closes.
Pressed on whether a deal was close for Jackson, Maresca replied: ‘No idea to be honest, no idea.
‘You know already from last season that I prefer to be focused on the training sessions, preparing for the game and these kind of things. I don’t know.’
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