Xavi Simons has already told Enzo Maresca his best position as £61m Chelsea transfer explained

Xavi Simons has already told Enzo Maresca his best position ahead of a potential transfer to Chelsea. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this summer after RB Leipzig failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Simons, whose contract at the Red Bull Arena expires in June 2027, featured 25 times in the Bundesliga last season, scoring 10 goals and providing seven assists. Despite his best efforts, the German outfit failed to qualify for either of UEFA's three club competitions.

With Leipzig set to miss out on significant prize money, they could be forced to cash in on some of their prized assets this summer. Last month, football.london understood that Chelsea had identified Simons as a target.

The Blues have been one of several clubs keeping a close eye on his situation. football.london understands that Leipzig wants €80m (£68m) for the Netherlands international, who has just two years left on his deal.

While the German outfit is not thought to be actively looking to sell Simons, there's an acceptance at the Red Bull Arena that he will look to move on eventually. The Dutchman has enjoyed spells on either flank during his time at Leipzig, but he favours a central role, which allows him to pull the strings from the half-spaces.

Speaking to reporters in July 2023, following his initial loan from Paris Saint-Germain, which later became permanent in January 2025, Simons named his favourite position. He said: "My favourite position is as a 10, but I’ll play wherever the coach puts me and give 100% out on the pitch for the team. That goes without saying."

If Chelsea were to sign Simons, he'd likely start on the left of Maresca's new setup, which essentially requires two number 10s, while also providing cover for Cole Palmer in his favoured position. As it stands, it remains to be seen whether or not the Blues will make a move.

According to German outlet Bild, Simons' agent, Ali Barat, is expected to approach Premier League clubs about a potential transfer this summer. The report claims that the Dutchman has already snubbed Bayern Munich, and he's shown no interest of a return to the French capital.

Bild reckons that it could Leipzig could part ways with the playmaker if they receive an offer worth about €70m (£61m). Fabrizio Romano has since added that Chelsea and Arsenal are keen on Simons.

He's kept his cards close to his chest in recent years, playing down a move away from Leipzig. Speaking to Bild in March, as quoted by Bulinews, Simons said: "Everyone has to improve - including me.

"But at the end of the day, we're all human. Not everything is perfect all the time. But we work hard to make the fans happy in the end. That's the process, and it's getting better.

"It's not about Xavi. It's about RB Leipzig. We have to solve things together - and we will. We still have nine games and are in the cup. We will continue to train hard for that."

A couple of weeks later, Stuttgart knocked Leipzig out of the DFB Pokal, winning 3-1 to book a place in the final. In April, Simons provided another brief update on his future at the Red Bull Arena.

Speaking to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Simons said: "I’m still a young player, I have many dreams – and the club knows that. But right now, the most important thing for me is to play well in the upcoming games."

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