This season feels like a massive one for Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca's side ended last season in spectacular fashion by securing Champions League football and winning the Conference League, and now there is an expectation they'll at least challenge in the Premier League.
Fortunately, this summer has gone about as well for the Blues as could have, as they won the Club World Cup and are undefeated in their pre-season clashes.
Enzo-Fernandez-Chelsea
Moreover, the board have made some smart additions to the team, and are now being linked with an upcoming star who has been compared to Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal.
Chelsea target a Bellingham & Yamal hybrid
Chelsea have really made the most of the transfer window this summer, as on top of making a pretty penny on the likes of Noni Madueke, Djordje Petrovic and Lesley Ugochukwu, they've seriously strengthened Maresca's squad.
The likes of Liam Dealp, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens should bring a mountain of goals to the team, while Jorrel Hato looks like he could be one of the next great defenders in world football.
Yet, with the window still open, the Blues appear keen on adding more talent to their already impressive squad, and in this case, a player who has been compared to both Bellingham and Yamal.
Chelsea MARESCA
At least that is according to a recent report from The Athletic, which has reaffirmed Chelsea's concrete interest in Xavi Simons.
In news that should reassure fans, the report has revealed that the West Londoners are still in talks with RB Leipzig over the incredibly talented Dutchman.
A potential price is not mentioned in the story, but reports from earlier this summer have claimed that the German outfit want £61m for the dynamic attacker.
While that may seem like a lot, it's probably fair for a player of his talent, especially as he's been compared to Bellingham and Yamal.
How Simons compares to Bellingham & Yamal
So, there are a number of fairly surface-level similarities you can point to between Simons, Bellingham, and Yamal, such as them all being relatively young stars who are full internationals, play in Europe's top five leagues, and are capable of creating chances out of nothing.
RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons reacts after the match
However, with FBref, we know that there are also plenty of quantifiable statistical similarities between them, as they looked at all attacking midfielders and wingers at last summer's European Championships and concluded that the Real Madrid ace was the tenth most similar to the Leipzig star, and the Barça gem ranked as the sixth most similar.
You can gain a better understanding of how these comparisons were made by examining the underlying numbers in which the Dutchman ranked closely to the two international superstars.
Simons & Bellingham
Statistics per 90
Non-Penalty Expected Goals
Passing Accuracy
Passes into the Final Third
Tackles + Interceptions
Ball Recoveries
All Stats via FBref for EURO 2024
When it comes to the former Borussia Dortmund star, these metrics include things like non-penalty expected goals, passes into the final third and ball recoveries per 90, suggesting that the former PSV Eindhoven ace could be as dangerous in the right situations.
Interestingly, one of the standout similarities with Barcelona's teenage sensation is their goal-creating actions per 90, which encompasses the two most critical offensive actions that precede a goal, which is a great metric to share with someone as effective as Yamal.
Simons & Yamal
Statistics per 90
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
Live Passes
Goal-Creating Actions
Tackles Won
Carries
All Stats via FBref for EURO 2024
However, while comparisons to two of the most exciting players in world football are undoubtedly encouraging signs, there are other clear reasons why the Pensionsers should be all over the 22-year-old "game-changer," as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him.
For example, in just 33 appearances last season, totalling 2763 minutes, the Amsterdam-born dynamo scored 11 goals and provided eight assists.
In other words, the sensational talent, who one analyst has dubbed "one of the best 10s in the world," managed to average a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 144 minutes.
Ultimately, while he will cost a pretty penny, Chelsea should be doing all they can to secure Simons' services as soon as possible.