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Kicker reports that RB Leipzig are not backing down from their asking price for Chelsea target Xavi Simons.
Leipzig have set the asking price for the 22-year-old at €70m and are not backing down when it comes to negotiations with Chelsea. If Chelsea are not willing to pay the price for Simons, then it can no longer be ruled out that he stays at Leipzig.
At the weekend, sporting director Marcel Schäfer also confirmed this when speaking to Sky.
“We make all our decisions based on sporting and financial considerations. If it suits everyone, we have often facilitated player transfers in the past. That’s not the case at the moment, and if nothing changes, Xavi will remain an RB Leipzig player.”
Despite rumours of an ongoing transfer, Simons still featured for Leipzig in their 4-2 win against Sandhausen in the DFB Pokal first round, where he scored and assisted.
Simons staying at Leipzig for another season may be beneficial to the club, considering his performance in the Pokal, with the new arrivals of Yan Diomande, Johan Bakayoko and Romulo, as well as the existing Loïs Openda. The Dutch international will have a wealth of options to reduce the burden on him in Leipzig’s attack.
Leipzig kick off their Bundesliga season on Friday against Bayern Munich, and it is likely there will be more clarity on the situation by then.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
