Tottenham have begun talks to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons ahead of Chelsea, based on reports.
Chelsea have held extensive talks to sign Simons before Monday’s transfer deadline but have been unable to agree a fee with RB Leipzig, who’re holding out for a deal value €70 million (£60.4m).
The Bundesliga side have already rejected a swap offer from Chelsea for Simons which might have seen Christopher Nkunku return to his former club.
In keeping with The Telegraph, Spurs have now joined the race for Simons and Thomas Frank’s side are ‘optimistic’ that the 22-year-old can be open to a move.
The report adds that there may even be ‘nervousness’ around Spurs after they saw their move for Eberechi Eze hijacked by Arsenal this month.
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Simons seemed to be near joining Chelsea at the beginning of the month after he was neglected of RB Leipzig’s pre-season friendly against Atalanta however the Netherlands international played a full 90 minutes within the 6-0 defeat to Bayern Munich last Friday.
Speaking after the team’s loss of their opening Bundesliga game of the brand new campaign, RB Leipzig’s sporting director, Marcel Schafer, maintained the club is not going to prevent Simons from leaving but insisted the deal should be ‘right for everybody’.
‘We’re generally known for enabling players to take the subsequent step. He has expressed his desire to take the subsequent step,’ Schafer said.
‘Mainly, we’re open and won’t block any players. But provided that all of the parameters are right for everybody involved. And that hasn’t been the case up to now.
‘If we notice that things are entering into a certain direction, then we’re prepared to take one or two players off.
‘That basically hasn’t been the case up to now. And that’s why he played today.’
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