The talk of the last couple of days in Chelsea transfer world has been a mooted swap with RB Leipzig, sending away Christopher Nkunku and bringing in Xavi Simons.
It makes sense for both parties – Chelsea want to sign Simons, but not until they’ve sold Nkunku. Leipzig, if they sell Simons, would want to replace him, and would certainly take back Nkunku if he’s willing.
Ben Jacobs has just put out a Tweet with a little more detail on how it would work. It turns out that Nkunku isn’t the only player Chelsea have been offering to their German counterparts as a potential part-exchange for Simons.
Chelsea open door for multiple players in part exchange
“Chelsea and Leipzig have discussed Christopher Nkunku in talks for Xavi Simons. Tyrique George and Carney Chukwuemeka other names raised over the past few weeks,” the well connected Chelsea insider wrote.
“Should Nkunku or another Chelsea player join Leipzig, it will be a separate transfer to Xavi. But it’s linked in the sense Chelsea want to sell both Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, allowing them to move for Xavi and Alejandro Garnacho.”
Chelsea and Leipzig open to effective trade move
That all makes perfect sense, and is exactly what we predicted would happen in this case. Actual swap deals don’t make sense in the age of PSR and FFP, but what do make sense are interdependent deals that are effectively a transfer each way, contingent on the other.
None of this means a deal will happen – there’s a lot that can go wrong when two clubs and two players are negotiating effectively one big move – but there is certainly a pathway there for a deal which everyone would be happy with.
Simons makes sense and would be a great addition, but the Garnacho is not the type of character we want/need in the changing room or on the pitch. The fact that a club as dysfunctional as Utd (who are sorely lacking for the skill and pace Garnacho offers) are shipping this guy off says all you need to know. He has the look of a Joao Felix (only possibly more of a malcontent) written all over him. Not something we need just as a young squad is starting to show cohesion and a fighting spirit.