Chelsea are racing against the clock to finalise deals for Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho ahead of their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace. Although the transfer window remains open until September 1, manager Enzo Maresca is determined to have the bulk of his squad settled before Sunday’s fixture at Stamford Bridge.
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| Xavi Simons in action for RB Leipzig against SV Werder Bremen. |
The Blues’ recruitment chiefs, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, have already committed close to £250 million in signings this summer, yet the club’s transfer activity is showing no signs of slowing. Simons, currently with RB Leipzig, remains a prime target, with negotiations ongoing and optimism within Chelsea that a deal will be reached.
At the same time, Chelsea are pushing to bring in Manchester United winger Garnacho. The 20-year-old Argentine has signalled his interest in joining the west London club, though United’s £50m valuation is significantly higher than Chelsea’s £30m ceiling. Garnacho’s reduced role under Ruben Amorim late last season has weakened United’s bargaining position, which Chelsea hope to exploit.
While Premier League rules allow clubs to sign players until the transfer window closes, there is a key registration deadline for participation in matches. According to the league’s handbook, a player must be registered by midday on the last working day before the match in which the club intends to field him. For Chelsea’s match against Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace on Sunday, this means Simons or Garnacho would need to be registered by 12 noon on Friday to be eligible.
This is not the first time such a deadline has come into play. Liverpool and Bournemouth faced a similar cut-off on Thursday ahead of their Friday night fixture at Anfield.
Speaking ahead of the season opener, Chelsea captain Reece James expressed confidence about the campaign ahead.
This season we are going to be ambitious. We’re in a good position. We want to compete at the highest level and win the competitions we’re in,” James said. He praised the club’s new arrivals, noting that although the team has only had a short period to work with them, their quality has already been evident. “We have good depth this year, and we hope to go close, he added.
James also addressed the return to Champions League football. “I wouldn’t say it’s an extra step it’s where the club is meant to be. The last few years we haven’t been there, but it’s nothing we’re not used to. We’ll be playing against top teams, but we are one of the best as well.
Reflecting on the club’s progress, the captain pointed to recent success and upward momentum. “The two seasons before we didn’t qualify for the Champions League and we didn’t win any trophies. Now we have qualified, and we’ve won two trophies. The trend is upwards, and we want to keep that going. The club is definitely moving in the right direction.”
For now, the focus remains firmly on sealing the Simons and Garnacho deals in time. Maresca’s desire to have both players integrated before the Palace match leaves Chelsea with a tight schedule. Whether the Blues can pull it off will be known by Friday’s registration deadline.
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