When the transfer window opens again in just over a week’s time, Chelsea are expected to pick up where they left off and look to conduct business swiftly.
The Blues beat off interest from a number of top Premier League sides for Liam Delap, with him in line to make his Chelsea debut at the Club World Cup.
The club pushed hard to bring in Jamie Gittens and Mike Maignan before the first deadline, and may return to the negotiating table for both in the coming days.
There is an ambition at the club for them to add another attacking profile to their squad, with Morgan Rogers being mentioned as a dream target.
Chelsea have contacted Rogers’ agent, however this was likely just to get a better understanding of how much they will need to pay to bring him in.
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Chelsea eye up Xavi Simons as Morgan Rogers alternative
However, he is not the only name on this list, and Simon Phillips has stated that the club have discussed again over the weekend, with Xavi Simons now emerging as a top target.
He said on his Substack: “But Chelsea have other options in those positions, and we have heard about a ‘new’ one again over the weekend.
“Chelsea have previous recent interest in Xavi Simons of RB Leipzig as we reported on this site at the time, but a source has mentioned him again to us over the weekend with something potentially brewing up there again.
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“Simons can play wide or central in any of those attacking positions and would be perfect for what the club and Maresca want.
“There are other clubs looking at Simons as well but our source has simply said that Chelsea are ‘in for him’. Of course, we have known of this interest for a while but it’s interesting that his name has come up to us again now.”
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Chelsea and Leipzig could propose swap deal
Simons impressed despite being hit by injuries last season. He registered 18 combined goals and assists in just 25 Bundesliga games.
He is not the only player from the German side they are keen on either. Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko and also Castello Lukeba have been mentioned as targets in the past.
Chelsea could propose a swap deal that includes Christopher Nkunku, who it is fair to say has not hit the heights many expected of him since he left Leipzig for Stamford Bridge.
Nkunku is part of the squad for the Club World Cup, however is still expected to move on at some stage of this transfer window.