Xavi Simons sends clear Chelsea transfer message after huge RB Leipzig decision

Xavi Simons might well have just played his final game for RB Leipzig as Chelsea transfer talks continue in the background. The Blues started negotiations to sign the attacking midfielder in July, but they haven't advanced significantly in the following weeks.

Discussions for Jorrel Hato of Ajax taking place at the same time likely played a key role in the Simons deal not being pushed through, with Leipzig also focused on selling Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United.

Both of those moves have since been confirmed, which suggests all focus will be on Simons, but that is not quite the case. Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho is now also being actively targeted by those at Stamford Bridge while Leipzig want to sign Harvey Elliot of Liverpool as their Simons replacement.

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With no real progress being made, Leipzig have, seemingly, decided that the Netherlands international is still focused on matters at his current club. That fact has been evidenced by his involvement against Lens in a pre-season friendly and the Bundesliga club's first competitive fixture of the season DFB Pokal against Sandhausen.

Simons was named in the starting XI for the trip to east Germany and he showed his quality by assisting a goal in a chaotic first half which ended 2-2. Leipzig went in front in the second half with Simons grabbing the second of two late goals and thus helping seal a spot in the next round.

However, Simons may not be at the club to play in that match with the summer transfer window deadline swiftly approaching. In addition to Garnacho and Simons, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has made it clear he wants to sign a new centre-back following the serious knee injury suffered by Levi Colwill.

Speaking on the situation - in his latest press conference - Maresca said: "We are trying to find solutions internally. The club knows exactly what I think. We will see. I think we need a central defender. We are looking internally for a solution."

The Blues head coach went into a little bit more detail, and rather brutally, as to why he wants another defensive signing.

"Wes played 45 minutes in that position. It was the first half against Bournemouth away. Probably one of the worst halves since we started," he added. "Benoit playing in the middle, the Conference League final, first half, we were losing 1-0. We changed with Levi and won 4-1. It's not the same. The one in the middle, in my way, is so important."

Marc Guehi would be the obvious signing, but he looks set to either join Liverpool - or stay put with Crystal Palace and depart as a free agent next summer.