While they didn't exactly kick off their Premier League campaign in style, Chelsea got back on track with their thumping win away to West Ham United on Friday night.
The fans will be expecting Enzo Maresca's side to do even better than last season this year, and rightly so, as the board have more than done their part over the last few months by significantly strengthening the side.
The likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato and more all look like great buys, and with a week to go until the window slams shut, the West Londoners seem intent on bringing in more talent.
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One of the players who now seems almost sure to join the club is Alejandro Garnacho, although if reports are to be believed, the Blues could be set to sign another international ace who'd keep him out of the team.
Chelsea target Garnacho upgrade
Chelsea's interest in Garnacho has been a longstanding one, with reports touting him for a move to the club back in the winter window.
Things have significantly progressed this summer, though, with the Manchester United ace reportedly rejecting other clubs to join the Blues, so long as a deal can be worked out between the two sides.
The Madrid-born gem would undoubtedly add dynamism and more of a goal threat to Maresca's squad, but it now looks like the West Londoners are closing in on another attacker, someone who'd surely keep him out of the team.
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At least that is according to a recent report from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, which has reaffirmed Chelsea's interest in Xavi Simons.
More than that, though, the report has claimed that, on top of already having an agreement with the player, the player will try to secure his move to the Bridge before deadline day.
In other words, the West Londoners are trying to bring the RB Leipzig star to Stamford Bridge this week, and while no price is mentioned in the story, reports from earlier this summer claim that an offer of £61m should be enough to seal the deal.
That is certainly a lot of money to spend on one player, but given Simons' ability and potential, he'd be worth it, even if he'd keep Garnacho out of the team.
Why Simons would keep Garnacho out of the team
Unfortunately for Garnacho, while he is a versatile player who can thrive in attacking midfield and off the left, so can Simons.
RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons reacts after the match
RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons reacts after the match
In fact, the Flying Dutchman has shown himself to be even more versatile than the Argentine, as on top of playing in the middle and off the left, he has spent time off the right and up top.
In other words, the United ace would almost certainly be in competition for game time with the Leipzig star, and based on the last season or so, we'd pick the latter every time.
For example, when it comes down to their raw output, there is just no competition.
In his 33 appearances for the German outfit last year, totalling 2763 minutes, the unreal "game-changer," as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 11 goals and provided eight assists.
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That means he was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes.
In contrast, the 21-year-old Red Devils ace scored 11 goals and provided ten assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3568 minutes, last term.
That comes out to a notably worse average of a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or every 169.90 minutes.
The comparison is just as, if not more, one-sided when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers.
Simons vs Garnacho
Statistics per 90
Non-Penalty Goals + Assists
Progressive Passes
Progressive Carries
Key Passes
Passes into the Final Third
Passes into the Penalty Area
Shot-Creating Actions
Goal-Creating Actions
Tackles Won
Blocks
Clearances
Successful Take-Ons
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season
Here, the former Paris Saint-Germain gem comes out comfortably ahead in most relevant metrics, such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, from their output to their underlying numbers, there is nothing that suggests Garnacho is even on the same level as Simons.
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Therefore, as they play in the same positions on the pitch, it seems almost certain that the latter will keep the former out of the Chelsea team this season.