Tottenham have begun talks to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons ahead of Chelsea, according to reports.
Chelsea have held extensive talks to sign Simons before Monday’s transfer deadline but have been unable to agree a fee with RB Leipzig, who are holding out for a deal worth €70 million (£60.4m).
The Bundesliga side have already rejected a swap offer from Chelsea for Simons which would have seen Christopher Nkunku return to his former club.
According to The Telegraph, Spurs have now joined the race for Simons and Thomas Frank’s side are ‘optimistic’ that the 22-year-old would be open to a move.
The report adds that there will also be ‘nervousness’ around Spurs after they saw their move for Eberechi Eze hijacked by Arsenal this month.
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Simons appeared to be close to joining Chelsea at the start of the month after he was left out of RB Leipzig’s pre-season friendly against Atalanta but the Netherlands international played a full 90 minutes in the 6-0 defeat to Bayern Munich last Friday.
Speaking after the team’s loss in their opening Bundesliga game of the new campaign, RB Leipzig’s sporting director, Marcel Schafer, maintained the club will not prevent Simons from leaving but insisted the deal must be ‘right for everyone’.
‘We are generally known for enabling players to take the next step. He has expressed his desire to take the next step,’ Schafer said.
‘Basically, we’re open and won’t block any players. But only if all the parameters are right for everyone involved. And that hasn’t been the case so far.
‘If we notice that things are going in a certain direction, then we’re prepared to take one or two players off.
‘That really hasn’t been the case so far. And that’s why he played today.’
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