Leipzig want to sign Carney Chukwuemeka amid Chelsea interest in Xavi Simons | OneFootball

RB Leipzig are now pushing to sign Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka this summer (h/t Florian Plettenberg).

Chelsea signed Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa three years ago, but he has struggled to break into the first team.

He joined Borussia Dortmund on loan for the second half of last season.

Chelsa hoped the successful loan spell would encourage Dortmund to sign Chukwuemeka permanently, but they decided against the move.

Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino described Chukwuemena as a ‘very talented’ plater, but he has struggled to live up to that billing.

Injuries and changes at Chelsea have prevented him from developing into the talented player he can be, and a move away is the best solution for all parties.

Leipzig have reportedly opened talks to sign the England youth international, and they have an advantage over Dortmund in the race.

The Blues want to add a dynamic ball carrier to their squad and are pushing to sign Xavi Simons from Leipzig this summer.

Chelsea has other profiles in the engine room, but they lack a ball carrier, hence the links to Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Leipzig’s Simons.

After securing a deal for Simons, the only gaping hole left for Chelsea to plug ahead of next season is the left-back position.

The Blues have overworked Marc Cucurella and need a player to deputise for him.

Another left-winger might be on the agenda, but it is not a must, considering Chelsea already have enough options for the flanks.

The focus should be on selling unwanted stars, including Chukwuemeka, Joao Felix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling and more to balance their books.