Chelsea's chances of signing Simons, Rodrygo transfer, interest in Rogers and Osimhen reality

The summer transfer window has 41 days left to run and business at Chelsea has been fairly warm throughout, but will begin to heat up even more in the coming weeks.

The Blues have already brought in a host of new players this summer but are targeting multiple players between now and the end of the window. On Monday, football.london's Chelsea reporter, Bobby Vincent, conducted a Q&A session on Monday where all attention was on what the Blues are going to do up until September 1. Below is the full transcript from the session:

Q: What is the news in Morgan Rogers/Xavi Simons? Also would love to know where we are with Jorrel Hato and how we are progressing with outgoings.

A: Both are players Chelsea are interested in. Rogers will not be cheap. £80million is the price doing the rounds at the moment and Chelsea would be reluctant to pay that, but ultimately Aston Villa do not want to sell. As for Hato - again, not too much to report other than initial interest. Chelsea are exploring their options in multiple areas at the moment and he is certainly someone they like. The club like the fact he can cover at left-back and also play in the centre.

Q: Do you think Chelsea should realistically be aiming to challenge for the Premier League title this season? If not, where do they need to strengthen between now and the end of the summer?

A: Every Chelsea fan has high expectations and will tell you they should be competing for the PL title every year. It's difficult. You look at the business Liverpool have done, Arsenal are trying their best to strengthen and you expect Manchester City will be back stronger. That said, the version of Chelsea we saw against Paris Saint-Germain is enough to excite anyone! I think there is a strong case for Chelsea breaking into the top three next season but it will be difficult.

Q: Obviously in the attack, we know about Rogers or Simmons so far but for the left-back role, we still have only seen Hato as an option going by reports. Do you know any other names that have been considered as cover for the left-back role?

A: Hato is a name being considered, yes. As far as other names go, we have not heard anything unfortunately. Enzo Maresca has used Reece James, Malo Gusto and even Josh Acheampong there, so they are all options. Ishe Samuels-Smith looks to be on the move as well.

Q: What is the latest on Xavi Simons? Is there a concrete possibility of it happening? Also do Chelsea go for a striker if Nicolas Jackson goes? Is it both Simons and Alejandro Garnacho, or one or the other?

A: Simons is someone they are interested in - nothing much more to add (at the moment, at least). He has been on the club's radar for a while now and there is a real possibility of him leaving RB Leipzig so I would not be surprised at all if Chelsea were to make a move for him in the coming weeks.

Q: Will we wait for Jackson (who maybe goes to Villa) before we make a move for Rogers or Simons? Is Hato the only option at left-back?

A: No, I don't believe so [wait for Jackson to leave]. Sources tell me Jackson is not for sale and they also tell me Simons and Rogers are of interest. Whatever happens with Jackson is irrelevant to Simons/Rogers. Chelsea are interested in Hato, yes. Club considering making a move for him, but there are other options as well.

Q: How real is the interest in Morgan Rogers?

A: Genuine interest. The issue is Aston Villa do not really want to sell him. If they do sell him, it would be for an extortionate price.

Q: Who's more likely to happen? Morgan Rogers or Xavi Simons?

A: Xavi Simons, I would say. Cheaper deal and less complicated to make happen, it seems.

Q: Is there any news or chance Chelsea do actually go back for Mike Maignan before the window closes?

A: I don't believe so, but stranger things have happened.

Q: What's happening with the defence situation as in centre-back/left-back cover and also the goalkeeper position?

A: Jorrel Hato is of interest. He can cover at both left-back and in the centre of defence. Re goalkeepers: Chelsea are happy with what they have at the moment. The Mike Maignan stuff earlier in the window was an opportunity they saw possible but it ended up not happening.

Q: Would Chelsea be willing to spend the £80million+ required to purchase Rogers? Is Joe Shields pushing for him also?

A: If things were to advance on that front, Chelsea would be doing everything in their power to get that fee down. He is someone the club really like, though, and Joe Shields, as you say, is a big advocate of him.

Q: Who is higher on the list, Rogers or Simons?

A: Difficult to say who is 'higher' but they are both players Chelsea like. Simons could be cheaper and an easier move to negotiate...

Q: Is Rodrygo possible? Also if we sell Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jackson and loan Marc Guiu, do you think we will revisit the striker situation?

A: I've heard nothing on Rodrygo being of interest. If Jackson is sold (I don't expect him to be, for what it's worth) then yes, the striker situation may be revisited. Chelsea want two out-and-out No.9s and one versatile forward for next season.

Q: What’s the deal with Aaron Anselmino?

A: Fully expect him to move on loan. Nothing advanced yet. Strasbourg looks like a no-go now, though, with Mamadou Sarr, Mike Penders and Kendry Paez set to take up the three slots.

Q: Do you think a star name will come in? Will Chelsea look at bringing in any experience?

A: Depends what you mean by 'star name' really. I think Xavi Simons is a genuine possibility. And no, I don't see Chelsea moving away from their model unless an opportunity that could not be turned down presents itself.

Q: Are Chelsea going to sign a goalkeeper, if Jorgensen or Sanchez leave?

A: I would think so, yes, although there is nothing to suggest either of them will at the moment.

Q: We all know that Chelsea have made enquiries on Jorrel Hato from Ajax, any progress on that deal, do you think we have a good chance on landing him this summer, knowing that other club like Arsenal & Liverpool are all hunting for his services?

A: I've not heard anything on any progress. And yes, I believe so. Chelsea have shown in recent windows they can compete with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal regardless of league positions.

Q: Any chance that Chelsea go back in for Maignan or sign any other goalkeeper this summer? Weakest area of the squad by far which badly needs addressing.

A: I've not heard anything to suggest they will revisit the Maignan situation. Everything I've heard indicates the club are happy with Sanchez and Jorgensen.

The club believe Sanchez had a really strong end to the season and is showing positive signs. They went in for Maignan as an opportunistic move but ultimately did not want to pay Milan's asking price.

Q: Is Marc Guehi on the list or not anymore?

A: Guehi is definitely someone that has been considered. Haven't heard much on him in recent weeks. Sources close to the player told me Liverpool were considered favourites a few weeks ago, but as I say, he is certainly someone Chelsea have kept close tabs on.

Q: Garnacho to Chelsea? What do the sporting directors see in him? Potential resale value?

A: Certainly an option. Interest in Garnacho has never gone away. United are said to want £60million for him but given the public nature of his fall-out with Amorim, I do not see that valuation being met. I think Chelsea would look to get him a lot cheaper than that.

Q: How many players do you think Chelsea will be able to move on this window?

A: These are a list of players Chelsea are either looking to sell/will not stand in the way of if a suitable offer comes in: Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, Alfie Gilchrist, Caleb Wiley, Christopher Nkunku.

There is always one or two that do not get done for whatever reason. I think 90% of those players will leave, either on loan or on a permanent basis. The trouble is with players like Sterling and Chilwell, for instance, it is difficult to sell them because their wages are high and they have not played a lot of football over the last 12 months.

Q: Why didn't Chelsea sell players in order to pay for Victor Osimhen's wages?

A: Chelsea felt Osimhen's wages were too high. Shifting multiple players to make room for him would seem a tad unsustainable.