Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea transfer truth as Enzo Maresca dream squad with Xavi Simons revealed

Chelsea retain a keen interest in Alejandro Garnacho this summer despite the Blues progressing forward with a move for Xavi Simons, football.london understands.

The Blues have been interested in the 21-year-old Manchester United winger for a while now, with their stance on the Argentine being made public back in the January transfer window. Back then, Chelsea were considering making a move for a left winger, with the likes of Garnacho, Mathys Tel and Jamie Gittens on the club's radar, but decided to put trust in their options for the remainder of the season.

Chelsea have since bought Gittens - in a deal understood to be worth around £55million - last month, but the 20-year-old is one of two of Enzo Maresca's out-and-out left wing options. And the other is Tyrique George, who could leave on loan this summer as the club looking to help with the 19-year-old's development.

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Jadon Sancho left Stamford Bridge once his loan spell expired, while Noni Madueke, who was used on the left at times towards the end of last season, has moved to Arsenal for £52million. Pedro Neto can play on the left but Maresca prefers the Portugal international on the other side - and the winger showed why during a tremendous FIFA Club World Cup campaign.

If Garnacho is available for the right price, Chelsea could move for him on top of bringing in Simons, which remains a real possibility. football.london understands the Blues are preparing an opening offer to RB Leipzig for the 22-year-old, who can play in multiple positions across the front line.

Joao Pedro, similarly to Gittens, can be deployed virtually anywhere across the attack. If Garnacho was to be brought in, it would essentially give Maresca two options for each position in the forward positions.

Gittens and Garnacho on the left, with the likes of Simons and Joao Pedro also able to play there. Estevao Willian and Neto on the right-hand side. Cole Palmer, Simons and Joao Pedro as the No.10 options. Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Joao Pedro to choose from as the No.9.

Sources could not say for definite whether Garnacho will be targeted on top of Simons, but equally, the interest is still there - which is telling in its own way considering the Blues - as we speak - are pushing to sign the latter. Morgan Rogers, too, remains on the club's radar, although a deal for the Aston Villa playmaker is far more complicated.

Villa do not want to sell Rogers, football.london understands, but there is a suggestion they would cash in at the right price as the Midlands-based club look to comply with the Premier League's Squad Cost Rules.