Chelsea have been urged to drag out of their deal for £61m transfer goal Xavi Simons.
The Blues are in advanced talks with RB Leipzig after agreeing personal terms with Netherlands attacker Simons.
With Leipzig demanding around 70m euros for Simons, 22, Chelsea are currently working on player sales to boost funds for the deal.
The Blues have already sold Joao Felix to Al Nassr for £43.7m and raised over £50m through the sale of Noni Madueke to Arsenal.
Simons, who can play as a No. 10 or on the left wing, has made 76 appearances for Leipzig over the past two seasons and has 28 caps for Netherlands.
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Chelsea have high hopes for Simons but former Premier League forward Jan Age Fjørtoft has major reservations concerning the deal and says he might be ‘one other Nkunku’.
Christopher Nkunku has been put up on the market this summer after one other disappointing season at Stamford Bridge.
Like Simons, the France international impressed at RB Leipzig before his £52m move to west London in 2023.
Discussing Chelsea’s pursuit of Simons, Fjørtoft told ESPN: ‘You might have to say to them, they’re fair to their type of plan. They’ve an outlined type of player they wish to get in.
‘But we now see they’re being linked to Xavi Simons. I mean, that’s Nkunku again, isn’t it?
‘There’s something about their transfer strategy. I understand going for the massive player and the most important talents.
‘But take a look at Joao Felix, when did he last have 5 – 6 games where he played well? He’s one among those floaters who just float around the massive clubs.
‘Chelsea are truthful to their transfer strategy but I’m undecided they should take the variety of players they do. Go for the massive ones but I don’t understand why they need to go for therefore many.
‘It’s a bit unfair on young players because as of late we’d like them to be good straightaway. Back in our days this is able to be a young kid who would take his time and prove to be good, now we wish him to be the finished article.
‘I’m undecided Xavi Simons will take the following step or do Chelsea higher. You only get a sense that want these type of personalities because there’s so many players like him at Chelsea.
‘He’s an excellent player but is he in a position to take the following step up? He’s been linked with Bayern Munich and different clubs but will he take the following step? And don’t they’ve that form of player already?
‘There’s players which might be now world-class who were on loan a number of years ago so that you never learn about these players but there’s something about Simons’ temperament that I’m not 100% convinced of.
‘Is he the guy who can go from being an excellent player and switch himself into an incredible player? You see that potential in some players but I’m undecided about Xavi Simons.’
While Chelsea pursue Simons, they’ve also made a bid for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.
The Netherlands star is valued at around £43m by Ajax and Norwegian football hero Fjørtoft has suggested he might be a shrewd signing.
‘They are saying he’s the most important talent in Europe when it comes to defence,’ Fjørtoft added. ‘He’s only 19 and he’s already played over 100 games for Ajax.
‘They are saying his weakness is the aerial duals because he’s not that tall. But in Holland they are saying he’s one among the most important defensive talent they’ve had for a lot of, a few years so I get why Chelsea have an interest.
‘They are saying this defender is the following big thing so hopefully we see him within the Premier League.’
Chelsea’s biggest signings to this point this summer have been Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap.
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