Chelsea have reportedly agreed terms with Dutch starlet Xavi Simons ahead of a proposed move for the RB Leipzig attacking midfielder.
It would represent another excellent attacking signing by Enzo Maresca, who is clearly leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of glory with the Blues this season.
With Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro already joining this summer, the manager has plenty of strength in depth in the final third.
While Simons would be a sublime signing, aren’t the Blues better off spending money trying to bolster their backline instead?
As such, they are eyeing a move for someone who would do just that.
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The vast majority of the transfer news recently has been regarding attacking players. As mentioned, Simons is closing in on a move, while Maresca is keen on signing Alejandro Garnacho too.
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Now, according to L’Equipe, Chelsea could be ready to pounce for PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, with the French side willing to sell him if he doesn’t commit to a new deal.
The Euro 2020 winner has less than a year left to run on his existing contract and the Ligue 1 outfit don’t want a repeat of the Kylian Mbappé debacle that occurred last summer, when the Frenchman departed on a free transfer.
That opens up the possibility that the Blues could see an offer accepted, were they to lodge a bid, with a price tag of around £34m having been touted this summer.
Given the Blues need a solid shot-stopper if they wish to go far in the Champions League and challenge for the domestic title, the Italian is the perfect solution.
Could he even be a better signing than Simons?
Why Chelsea must sign Gianluigi Donnarumma
There is no doubt Simons would bolster the attacking department, but Maresca already boasts a stellar attacking unit, having acquired Delap, Pedro and Gittens already – three players who contributed 38 goals combined in 2024/25.
With teenage sensation Estevao Willian also set to join the mix, the Italian boasts a stellar cast of forward options, led by Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto. It is defensively, however, where Chelsea face bigger problems.
Last term, they conceded 64 goals across 64 matches, while ‘keepers Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen were hardly convincing, the former having made five errors leading to a goal in the top-flight.
Games played
23
Clean sheets
4
Save percentage
68%
Saves made
2.2
Pass accuracy
87%
Errors leading to goals
0
Long ball accuracy
44%
Comparing the Spaniard to Donnarumma, there is clearly a difference in quality. Last season, the Italian not only conceded fewer goals domestically (25 vs 34) than Sanchez, but he also completed a higher percentage of passes (87.3% vs 69.7%).
The PSG ‘keeper also conceded fewer goals per game than Sanchez (1 vs 1.1) and lost possession fewer times (3.3 vs 11.8) during their respective domestic leagues last term.
He was hailed as “sensational” by journalist Joe Prince-Wright during PSG’s clash against Arsenal in the Champions League last campaign and the Italian would give Maresca a massive boost regarding his goalkeeping options.
When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five divisions, Donnarumma ranks in the top 12% for goals against per 90, signifying just how impressive he has been over the previous 12 months for his club side.
A first Champions League winners medal will surely have given the 25-year-old a confidence boost. Moving to Chelsea would ensure he gains plenty of gametime throughout 2025/26, that’s for sure.
Can he be the missing piece of the jigsaw for Maresca? And more importantly, the former AC Milan ‘keeper would surely be a better signing than Simons, given the club’s need for a stronger backline.
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