Alejandro Garnacho has already sent Chelsea clear message as Enzo Maresca transfer plan laid bare

Chelsea remain interested in Alejandro Garnacho this summer despite the club pushing forward with talks to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

football.london understands Garnacho continues to be a target for the Blues after the west Londoners considered a move for the Manchester United winger in the January transfer window. Enzo Maresca, who will be going into his second season as Chelsea head coach, wants at least two options for all of the attacking positions and at the moment, the Blues are rather short in the left wing department.

New signing Jamie Gittens and youngster Tyrique George are Maresca's natural left wingers as it stands, but a loan move has been considered for the latter of the two. Xavi Simons, who Chelsea are continuing their efforts to bring in this summer, can also play on the left-hand side but is more natural in the centre. Similar can be said about Joao Pedro, too.

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That is why Garnacho remains an option for Chelsea, but only on their terms. The Blues will be aware of the Argentine's desire to leave and United's reported want to offload him this summer with Ruben Amorim not seeing the winger as part of his plans for the upcoming campaign.

Garnacho has been used on the right wing in the past but he sees himself as a natural left-sided option.

Speaking to United's official website in November 2022, Garnacho said: "I've always liked to play out wide on the left, as a right-footed player able to cut inside. To be able to play as a right-footed player down the left, you also have to be pretty decent with your weaker foot.

"From an early age, I've always practiced hard using both feet, because that makes you into a much better player and so nowadays I can play with both feet - not to perfection but to a good standard."

Estevao Willian is set to be an option on the right-hand side alongside Pedro Neto. Estevao, though, will likely need a settling in period at Stamford Bridge given the circumstances of his arrival from Palmeiras.

If Simons was to arrive, then Chelsea would have three No.10 options in the Dutchman, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer. football.london understands the Blues are looking to go into the new season with three options in the centre-forward role; with two out-and-out No.9s - in Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap - as well as one versatile option - Joao Pedro - to choose from.

Due to this desire, Chelsea are not actively looking to sell Jackson this summer. The 24-year-old striker has been strongly linked with a departure from Stamford Bridge with plenty of interest in his signature, but sources have insisted he is not for sale. There remains an expectation Jackson will be a Chelsea player beyond the September 1 deadline.