Chelsea players are now in the final week of their holidays with preparation ahead of the upcoming Premier League season creeps up on the horizon.
As exclusively reported by football.london last week, the Blues players that helped win the FIFA Club World Cup will report back to Cobham on Monday, August 4. The squad were given a three-week break following their 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final in New Jersey, with players taking the opportunity to spend time with their families and loved ones before the real business starts again.
Enzo Maresca will reunite with his players at Cobham and will be hoping there are a couple of new additions to work with as well. Chelsea are in talks with RB Leipzig and Ajax for Xavi Simons and Jorrel Hato, respectively, as the Blues look to add both Dutchmen to their squad for the upcoming season.
The west Londoners opened talks with Leipzig last week for the signing of Simons, with a fee for the 22-year-old being discussed by the two clubs. Chelsea and the Dutchman came to a broad agreement over personal terms, football.london understands, with Simons having his heart set on a move to Stamford Bridge.
An avid follower of Chelsea growing up, Simons almost made the move to the Blues after having a trial at Cobham. A move never materialised but it almost appears to be a full circle moment for the Netherlands international. Bayern Munich have also expressed an interest in the Barcelona academy product, but it looks as if he only wants Chelsea.
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Meanwhile, Chelsea are in advanced talks with Ajax over a move for Hato. Personal terms have been agreed with the 19-year-old defender, who has told his current employers of his desire to leave the club and move to the Blues. Hato was then left out of the matchday squad last week for the Dutch side’s pre-season friendly against Celtic – adding more fuel to the fire.
The Club World Cup champions are looking for cover at left-back for Marc Cucurella, who clocked over 5000 minutes for club and country last season, as well as another option in the centre of defence. In Hato, they will have just that, and a move appears to be getting closer and closer.
There is a genuine confidence from Chelsea that both deals can be completed, football.london understands, and they will be hoping that is sooner rather than later. Chelsea play two pre-season matches before the new campaign gets underway, with Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan both coming to Stamford Bridge on August 8 and 10, respectively, in the 2025 VisitMalta Weekender.
