On 04/08/2025 at 19:47, WhiteWall said:

Its one of the things that i do agree with Younes over. If they get to sell Sesko first for what they want, Leipzig may well start hiking the price for Simons. If we are going to do it we need to do it soon

Looks like Sesko is going to Utd. Red Cafe already sniggering at The Geordies.

Think Leipzig got top dollar there. Do they really need to sell Simons aswell?

3 minutes ago, Andy North said:

Think Leipzig got top dollar there. Do they really need to sell Simons aswell?

I don’t think they’ve ever ‘needed’ to sell Simons from a football perspective but by the way his contract/the deal to bring him to the club were set up it’s always been with a view to ‘flip’ this summer.

Sesko’s move will have 0 effect on Xavi’s, it’s not as though they’ll suddenly offer him a huge contract extension, wage increase & higher buyout clause because of Sesko going (albeit from all reports he’d reject it anyway).

They are a selling club a la Dortmund and it’s the model they’ve chosen.

This never made any sense to me and still does not. A very good player, but one that I simply cannot see happy to be a bench player and wait for moments in the second half to come on or certain matches to give Cole a rest. Probably our club felt there was an opportunity for a bargain price, but Leipzig had other plans.

This deal went cold in the last days and it's probably a good thing because even 50M would be way too much for a player that would not really fit in at the moment. Maresca plays a 3-2-4-1 on the attacking phase with an inverted full back and frankly Enzo and Palmer are nailed on starters for the two "no. 10" positions, with Neto on the right and one of Gittens/Garnacho on the left.

Yes, I included Garnacho because I think he will be a Chelsea player very soon.

I like the idea of Simons because it means Palmer would spend more time on the right, where I believe he is better than he is in the middle. Not a necessity, but he would be a nice player to have and would definetely strengthen the team. Unlike a certain Argentinian.

Edited August 8, 2025Aug 8 by True Blue23

2 hours ago, petre ispirescu said:

This never made any sense to me and still does not. A very good player, but one that I simply cannot see happy to be a bench player and wait for moments in the second half to come on or certain matches to give Cole a rest. Probably our club felt there was an opportunity for a bargain price, but Leipzig had other plans.

This deal went cold in the last days and it's probably a good thing because even 50M would be way too much for a player that would not really fit in at the moment. Maresca plays a 3-2-4-1 on the attacking phase with an inverted full back and frankly Enzo and Palmer are nailed on starters for the two "no. 10" positions, with Neto on the right and one of Gittens/Garnacho on the left.

Yes, I included Garnacho because I think he will be a Chelsea player very soon.

Wouldn’t be sure about the former. Looks lost and awful in the “10” role.

8 hours ago, markpitts said:

Wouldn’t be sure about the former. Looks lost and awful in the “10” role.

It's more like a hybrid 10 and Enzo is indispensable at this moment.

Seems to have gone cold.

Agree on the gone cold. Plus a CB should be higher priority.

I’d rather Gittens, Estevao, George, and assume Garnacho, get more playing time. Regarding the central role, Palmer has that, and think Enzo can fulfil that also as needed, or JP and Estevao, which in turn gives us a better midfield with the choice of Caicedo/Santos/Essugo/Lavia.

Simons and Garnacho feels one too many, especially with Quenda joining next year, George in the mix (for now), and Paez on loan. I didn’t even mention Neto, who is a nailed on starter for me.

if given the choice between Simons and Garnacho, not even sure what way I’d go there either.

Edited August 9, 2025Aug 9 by PhilH930

I don’t know how I feel about this signing never really watched him or rated him.

I wonder if they are trying to sort a deal for Nkunku before advancing any further. Signing Simmons before getting rid of Nkunku would weaken our position for sales as clubs would know that we have to sell.

5 hours ago, Clown Lake said:

Seems to have gone cold.

Fishing to try and rope Nkunku or Carney into a deal. They are not doing any of that until Sesko is sorted out. Now that's done I think this will either happen or die officially in the next 2-3 days.

I think they will sell when they find replacements. Without Sesko and Simons, they are going to be a lot weaker.

Not a terrible outcome if this deal goes cold. Simons is more a grafter than some mercurial creative talent these days, which overall isn't a bad thing but not sure he'd offer the attacking value we need. I worry it'd be another Pedro Neto type signing.

The gap between Olise, Wirtz and the rest of the AMs in the Bundesliga is a chasm.

25 minutes ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Not a terrible outcome if this deal goes cold. Simons is more a grafter than some mercurial creative talent these days, which overall isn't a bad thing but not sure he'd offer the attacking value we need. I worry it'd be another Pedro Neto type signing.

The gap between Olise, Wirtz and the rest of the AMs in the Bundesliga is a chasm.

But I do think that is the appeal for Maresca in both him and Garnacho. If we're winning a game and Gittens, Estevao, Neto etc are spent he could bring these on because they can retain shape but will also track back and offer defensive cover. Simons does also possess a longer range shot. Garnacho, I have no idea.

Perhaps moving Jackson and Nkunku out will make space for Simons and Garnacho in the matchday squad. Maresca surely cant fit them all in.

Edited August 10, 2025Aug 10 by OneTommyLangley

Latest rumours is that Simmons will only be signed if we sell Jackson AND Nkunku - Garnacho is now the priority out of the two players apparently.

I feel if we really wanted him it would have been done around the same time as Hato.

Hung Simmons out to dry IMO because of Winstanley's desire to get Garnacho.

1 hour ago, 2211 said:

Latest rumours is that Simmons will only be signed if we sell Jackson AND Nkunku - Garnacho is now the priority out of the two players apparently.

I feel if we really wanted him it would have been done around the same time as Hato.

Hung Simmons out to dry IMO because of Winstanley's desire to get Garnacho.

It's Nkunku, not Nico.

Simons is to replace Nkunku.

Garnacho is to replace Nico.

We are having difficulty moving on Nkunku due to his near 300k wages.

Maresca wants 2 players for each position.

Delap or Joao Pedro

Gittens or Garnacho

Palmer or Simons/Nkunku

Neto or Estevao

Everyone bar Delap can play multiple positions in the front 4. We won't Sterling Nkunku though.if we cannot sell him though Maresca will have him involved. Same with nico, is why we gave them squad numbers.

Makes sense.

RB Leipzig want to re-sign Christopher Nkunku as part of the deal to sell Xavi Simons to Chelsea.

(@JBurtTelegraph)

The deal must be sticky because of the clauses from his ex-clubs.

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Makes sense.

RB Leipzig want to re-sign Christopher Nkunku as part of the deal to sell Xavi Simons to Chelsea.

(@JBurtTelegraph)

This would be good. We get Simons. We get rid of Nkunku. We will not need Garnacho.

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Makes sense.

RB Leipzig want to re-sign Christopher Nkunku as part of the deal to sell Xavi Simons to Chelsea.

(@JBurtTelegraph)

This could be a win win

4 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Makes sense.

RB Leipzig want to re-sign Christopher Nkunku as part of the deal to sell Xavi Simons to Chelsea.

(@JBurtTelegraph)

Doubt they can afford his wages

Probably nothing really to this.

If we miss out on on him over a few million then we're idiotic. Just get the deal wrapped up and hope City got for Garnacho instead.