Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons Chelsea shirt number options ahead of double transfer deal

Chelsea have been extremely active in the transfer market so far this summer and they are not done just yet. Nine players have so far signed on the dotted line, including the big-money arrivals of Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato and Liam Delap.

The Blues have also planned for the years ahead with exciting teenage duo Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian joining from Independiente del Valle and Palmeiras respectively. Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons appear to be the next two players who will arrive at the club to boost Enzo Maresca's options even further.

Chelsea endured a memorable 2024/25 campaign after winning the Conference League and Club World Cup as well as qualifying for the Champions League via the top four. The Blues look like they really mean business this season if their summer spending is anything to go by so far.

football.london understands that the Blues are in talks with Manchester United over the signing of Garnacho. The club have been long time admirers of the wide man and even considered making a move for him during the January transfer window. The Argentina international himself is believed to be keen on moving to SW6 for the new Premier League season.

Chelsea have been in talks this week to sign Simons from RB Leipzig, with negotiations between the clubs going on for weeks now. The expectation is that the Netherlands international will move to Chelsea this summer.

Simons would certainly give Maresca options due to his ability to play from either flank and as an attacking midfielder. In the 2024/25 campaign for RB Leipzig, the Amsterdam-born youngster mainly split his duties between left-wing and attacking midfield, duly contributing with 11 goals and eight assists in his 33 games in all competitions.

Garnacho and Simons will no doubt be popular names for supporters to get on the back of their Chelsea shirts if they both do go on to join Maresca's team. Chelsea confirmed their shirt numbers for the new season on Friday morning and there are a handful of numbers left that may interest both.

The No.49 jersey that Garnacho initially donned at Manchester United is available at Chelsea but that isn't the case for No.17 that is currently his at Old Trafford. No.28, which he wore on his Argentina debut against Australia in the summer of 2023, is available, though.

For Simons, the No.20 and No.10 shirts that he wore for RB Leipzig are not vacant at Chelsea and the same goes for the No.7 he owned in his time with PSV. The Chelsea first-team shirt numbers currently available are 2, 13, 16, 19, 22, 26, 28, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42 and 43.

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