Teamwork makes the dream work

Chelsea plot bid for “among the best 10s” round

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Over the previous couple of seasons, Chelsea have signed a number of gamers who performed for Manchester Metropolis’s academy. Cole Palmer was the primary, and so they have additionally introduced within the likes of Tosin, Jadon Sancho on mortgage and Liam Delap would be the subsequent addition who suits the pattern.

Properly, in the previous few days, Aston Villa ahead Morgan Rogers, who additionally got here via Metropolis’s academy, has been linked with a transfer to Stamford Bridge. Certainly, stories recommend the Blues are ‘ready to bid for him’ this summer season.

Nevertheless, it’s not at all a assure that they’ll signal him. If Rogers is off the desk, then Chelsea appear to be lining up the dream different.

Chelsea’s dream Rogers different

Whether or not or not it was deliberate, the Blues have definitely signed various gamers from Metropolis’s academy but when a transfer for Rogers doesn’t materialise, they might flip to a participant from Barcelona’s well-known La Masia academy, as an alternative.

In keeping with a report from TEAMtalk, the West Londoners ‘are severely contemplating an strategy’ for Xavi Simons, RB Leipzig’s proficient, versatile attacker. They’re considered ‘primed to launch a proper strategy’ for the Dutchman after contact along with his representatives.

Nevertheless, they’ll face powerful competitors from sides within the Premier League. Two of these hail from London, with rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur .

xavi-simons-rb-leipzig-bundesliga

The opposite is newly topped Premier League champions Liverpool. Chelsea, or certainly any of the opposite sides, should pay upwards of £67m, as per one other report from TEAMtalk again in March.

Why Simons is the dream Rogers different for Chelsea

Regardless of being simply 22 years of age, Simons has been a key participant as soon as once more for German outfit Leipzig. The versatile ahead, who was born in Amsterdam, overcame damage points to place in some wonderful performances within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, showcasing why he’s “among the best 10s on this planet” within the phrases of 1 analyst on social media.

Xavi Simons celebrates

His numbers converse for themselves. In 33 appearances throughout all competitions final season, he managed 11 objectives and eight assists. If you break that down additional and have a look at his numbers within the Bundesliga, they learn ten objectives and 7 assists, in simply 25 video games.

Simons’ purpose and help per sport tally final time period within the German high flight was spectacular. In complete, he averaged 0.67 purpose involvements per sport, exhibiting wonderful consistency all through the marketing campaign.

Curiously, that could be a higher objectives and help ratio per sport than Rogers. Final time period for Villa, the England worldwide performed 37 video games within the Premier League, scoring and aiding 19 instances. That left him with a tally of 0.52 objectives and assists per sport, a way below Simons’ tally.

Rogers

It’s maybe price mentioning that the Englishman performed over 20 extra video games than Simons final time period.

He was additionally profitable within the Champions League, a contest the place the Dutchman struggled. Rogers contributed to seven objectives, together with a hat-trick in opposition to Celtic within the group stage.

One factor that’s fairly related between the 2 gamers is their versatility. Within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, Simons performed as each a quantity 10 and a left-winger, with Rogers slotting in the identical roles, in addition to enjoying as a right-winger and a quantity 9.

Curiously, there may be proof to recommend that Simons could be an ideal different to Rogers when wanting on the FBref underlying stats. For instance, the Leipzig star averages extra key passes per 90 minutes, with 2.13 to Rogers’ 1.47.

Simons v. Rogers key stats in contrast

Stat (per 90)

Simons

Rogers

Targets and assists

0.67

0.52

Key passes

2.13

1.47

Progressive passes

5.86

3.55

Shot-creating actions

4.52

3.04

Progressive carries

3.56

3.29

Stats from FBref

There isn’t a doubt that SImons is a “magic” participant, one thing Statman Dave as soon as mentioned about him. He would add a purpose risk and creativity to this Chelsea assault, while with the ability to play in quite a few completely different positions.

Netherlands' Xavi Simons celebrates scoring their third goal

At simply 22 years of age, he will certainly solely get higher and develop into the venture at Stamford Bridge. If Rogers is unattainable this summer season, then absolutely Simons is the proper different.

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