Xavi Simons was a Chelsea target at age 12 but his ‘lack of progression’ upset Lionel Messi

Xavi Simons is identical age as Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala and Pedri, but it surely looks as if he is been round without end.

Chelsea have opened talks to signal the 22-year-old, lengthy been touted as one in all soccer’s subsequent stars, talkSPORT understands.

The Blues are prepared to pay as much as £60million for the Netherlands worldwide.

Simons is anticipated to depart RB Leipzig this summer time, and is believed to be open to testing himself in England.

The ex-Dutch prodigy joined Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain on an preliminary mortgage deal in 2023, with the transfer made everlasting in January.

The German giants forked out an preliminary £43m for Simons, with the deal together with £26m in potential add-ons.

However the attacking midfielder now appears set to be on his method out simply months after signing a contract till 2027.

Arsenal are additionally eager on bringing him to the Premier League, however Chelsea are the primary membership to make contact together with his present facet.

And that is smart, contemplating the Blues have been making an attempt to deliver Simons to Stamford Bridge for over a decade since 2014.

Simons confronted the burden of expectation after exploding onto the scene at Barcelona, having honed his abilities on the membership’s famed La Masia academy from the age of seven.

However extremely, the affectionately dubbed ‘Golden Curls’, was noticed even earlier by Barca’s LaLiga rivals Villarreal.

Simons was simply three years outdated when his father Regillio Simons completed his taking part in profession at Dutch workforce TOP Oss earlier than the household moved to Spain from Amsterdam.

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“[Xavi] joined the system at Villarreal,’ Simons Sr informed the Mail.

“They had been very comfortable together with his progress and needed him within the academy system, however he was aged six and already taking part in with their Beneath-9s.

“I believed it was too early for that. I did not need him taking part in within the Beneath-9s at six, so I stated no. It was every week later when Barcelona known as and needed him to go for a trial.”

Simons Jr. continued to excel at Barcelona, who thought of him the largest academy expertise prospect since Lionel Messi.

Chelsea had been among the many golf equipment who tried to poach his providers when he was simply 12, however his father was eager for him to remain in Spain.

Regillio added: “We’ve spoken to Chelsea, and you realize it is going to be good cash at Chelsea.

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“Brokers strategy me to say they’re working for English golf equipment or Spanish golf equipment.

“It might probably’t contact me. I am not somebody who will probably be starry-eyed.

“Barcelona is already an enormous membership, and it brings him some sort of stress, and he’s dealing with it properly. That is good for me.”

It was no shock Simons’ household had been eager for him to proceed on the Nou Camp, having named the midfielder after icon Xavi Hernandez.

The previous Barcelona supervisor was a participant on the membership when his youthful namesake had begun to generate some buzz on-line.

And Simons as soon as recalled the day the 2 crossed paths, saying: “I used to be with the physio when Xavi [Hernandez] came to visit.

“Once I informed him that my title was additionally Xavi, he laughed. It was humorous. He’s my idol.

“I do know it’s troublesome, however I’ll do the whole lot to make it.”

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Sadly, Simons wasn’t to emulate him at Barcelona, and he ended up signing his first skilled contract at PSG in 2019 with out making his senior bow in Catalonia.

He defined: “Everybody goals of taking part in with Messi, however typically there may be one other method.

“I made a decision to attempt one other journey – and I feel that that is good for my improvement.”

Little did Simons know, however Messi would find yourself following him to PSG on the Parc des Princes two years later.

Nonetheless, their reunion did not work out as deliberate with Messi reportedly advising his outdated teammate, and then-Barca boss Xavi, to not re-sign Simons in 2022.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was stated to consider the Dutchman has not progressed sufficient, in keeping with El Nacional.

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The hype round Simons meant he boasted two million followers on Instagram earlier than he even made his skilled debut.

However after some early promise at PSG, he fell out of favour beneath Mauricio Pochettino and made simply 11 appearances in three years.

His tenure in Paris was marked by a penalty miss in a shock shootout defeat to Good within the final 16 of the Coupe de France.

And together with his PSG contract coming to an finish initially of the summer time, Simons determined to rebuild his profession again house.

The 5’7 star signed for PSV, and located the again of the online on 22 events throughout his season-long keep within the 2022/23 marketing campaign.

Inside 12 months, Ligue 1 giants PSG triggered a buy-back clause in his contract to reverse their mistake.

His return to France proved a false daybreak, as he was instantly despatched to Leipzig, the place he has since established himself as a serious power.

Simons, who scored towards England at Euro 2024, has chipped in with 21 targets for Leipzig throughout his two seasons in Germany.

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For Chelsea, the Blues see Simons as a possible substitute for Christopher Nkunku.

The Frenchman is free to go away Stamford Bridge this summer time, and if he departs, Enzo Maresca’s facet might transfer for Simons.

Chelsea have already signed Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens this window, however one goal stays from the outdated possession.

A decade on, it would lastly be time for without end younger Simons to steer the membership’s new period…