The Blues are facing having to find a way to shoehorn another supremely talented young forward into a frontline that is almost at full capacity
It's been another breathless summer of spending for Chelsea, with those behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge hell-bent on building on the progress made under Enzo Maresca last season. The attack, in particular, was clearly marked down as an area for significant improvement, with no fewer than four new forward signings already through the door, and more look set to follow.
Having added Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian to their ranks, RB Leipzig wantaway Xavi Simons is now in the Blues' sights in a deal that could cost around £60 million ($81m) to pull off.
Despite arguably being Chelsea's most exciting potential incoming signing for some time, on paper at least, questions have been raised over how exactly the Dutchman will fit into an already jam-packed attack and just how much collateral damage there could be.
GOAL, then, breaks down the winners and losers from the Simons' impending arrival at Stamford Bridge…
Getty Images SportWINNER: Enzo Maresca
It was widely believed that Chelsea's days of signing established, elite players were behind them as they pivoted to the more cost-effective approach of pursuing the best, high-potential young talent around. Simons, though, falls into both categories, and his capture is a serious statement of intent.
Despite still being just 22 years old, Simons has been around the block – bringing serious pedigree having shone in Barcelona's famed La Masia academy before joining Paris Saint-Germain and later Leipzig, where he's racked up 44 goal contributions in 76 appearances. Meanwhile, he's closing in on 30 senior caps at international level with the Netherlands.
For Maresca, this could be the first sign of the slight shift in transfer strategy that success will bring, with highly-rated young players who still have high ceilings arriving rather than those who will still need time to develop. Indeed, it has reported that Chelsea's Club World Cup success has made many sit up and take notice.
The head coach will have wanted to improve the level of his attack this summer, and Simons certainly raises the calibre compared to many of those who have come before.
AdvertisementAFPLOSER: Estevao Willian
Simons' arrival and the potential purchase of yet another winger in Alejandro Garnacho all-but confirms that much-heralded wonderkid Estevao Willian – himself a new signing as he completes his £56m ($71m) transfer from Palmeiras having turned 18 in April – will probably have to bide his time for regular opportunities.
Even if Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku and Raheem Sterling leave, Chelsea's attack is still absolutely loaded, with Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Pedro, Delap, Gittens and, in the No.10 role, Enzo Fernandez all effectively vying for four forward positions.
When you add Simons to the mix – another attacking midfielder who can play off the wings – then it becomes very difficult to see how Estevao will make himself a regular starter, at least initially, as it's also clear he is going to need a period of adaptation to the rigours of Premier League football.
Getty Images SportWINNER: Cole Palmer
Some might place Palmer among the potential losers of this transfer given the positional clashes with Simons, but the Dutchman might just be the man to unlock his new team-mate and help him recapture his very best form in a Chelsea shirt.
Although he has often been deployed as a No.10, many of Palmer's best moments have come while operating in the right half-space, where the pitch tends to be less congested and he is able to roam menacingly without getting caught in midfield traffic or marked out of the game, which was a more regular occurrence last season.
Maresca may have felt that he didn't have the personnel to use anyone else in the attacking midfield role behind the striker, with Joao Felix and Nkunku underperforming badly and Fernandez more of a No.8, but someone like Simons can give the attack another dimension.
The Dutchman could slot in as an out-and-out attacking midfielder, freeing Palmer to play as play as a half-winger – a position from which he has 21 goal contributions in 25 appearances for Chelsea, including three in his outrageous individual display in the Club World Cup final demolition of PSG. It's a fearsome prospect.
Getty Images SportLOSER: Romeo Lavia
There will, though, be some collateral damage when Simons completes his big-money move to Stamford Bridge, and Romeo Lavia may well be one who suffers as a result of the new signing. The midfielder is already somewhat on the back foot after an injury-plagued two seasons at Stamford Bridge, and now he faces even more competition for places.
Dario Essugo's arrival was one thing, although the Belgian will consider himself ahead of the Portuguese enforcer in the pecking order, but Simons is pretty certain to take up a midfield place and therefore force Lavia to the bench, with Moises Caicedo and Fernandez guaranteed starters in defensive and centre-midfield respectively.
The one saving grace is that Maresca has proven himself to be a real tinkerer, adapting his line up and tactical approach on a game-by-game basis based on the opponent. A midfield base of Lavia and Caicedo has proven to be very solid, or even a setup with the latter inverting from right-back. Chelsea's return to the Champions League and the new 'league phase' format will mean there are plenty of challenging games that require a more defensive approach, and Lavia could be invaluable in those scenarios.
