Enzo Maresca's Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market with more than £200million worth of new signings arriving but they may still have some work left to do
Chelsea's hopes of landing Xavi Simons have been dented by RB Leipzig's lack of appetite for a swap deal, it has been claimed. Dutch star Simons has long been linked with a Premier League switch - with some of Chelsea's rivals previously exploring a deal - and Leipzig's failure to qualify for Europe could finally see him leave.
Enzo Maresca's Blues have already had a busy window after returning to the Champions League. Estevao Willian has finally completed his move from Palmeiras, while Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have arrived to bolster the attack.
Chelsea are understood to have offered four players to the German club as part of a deal for Simons. One of those is Christopher Nkunku, who starred in Leipzig before his injury-hit spell in West London.
Other reported options include Tyrique George, Armando Broja and Carney Chukwuemeka. However, according to The Sun, none of them are of interest to Ole Werner's side.
Simons, 22, spent time with PSV Eindhoven and Paris Saint-Germain before joining Leipzig - first on loan and then permanently. He finished last season with 10 goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga, but his club narrowly missed out on a European spot after finishing seventh.
It has been another summer of upheaval already at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have spent more than £200m on new players, with Jamie Gittens another big-money Bundesliga star to arrive after completing his move from Borussia Dortmund, while they have also recouped nine figures through sales.
Noni Madueke's £48m move to Arsenal was among the highest-profile of the departures, with Joao Felix and Djordje Petrovic also fetching substantial fees. Beyond that, Maresca's side have sold or loaned a number of players to Strasbourg, with Kendry Paez completing a season-long loan on Thursday.
There could be further arrivals even if Simons stays put. Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been linked amid uncertainty over his future, though early signs suggest he will spend one more season in France.
The Blues go into the new season off the back of success at the Club World Cup. Their victory over PSG in the final brought a healthy financial windfall, and they will return to action with a pair of friendlies before the start of the new season.
Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan are both headed to Stamford Bridge for pre-season action next weekend, with Chelsea playing Leverkusen on the Friday and Milan on the Sunday. After that comes the start of the new Premier League season, with Maresca's team kicking off at home to Crystal Palace on August 17.