Chelsea get new Xavi Simons transfer green light to end £60m saga on one condition

Bayern Munich have emerged as serious candidates to sign Christopher Nkunku, football.london understands. The player is thought to be open to the move as well, with his Chelseacareer expected to come to an end this summer.

Chelsea have been considering offers for Nkunku since January, but their asking price of £60million was deemed too steep by suitors. Nkunku continued to be part of Enzo Maresca's squad despite having his heart set on an exit.

He was involved at the Club World Cup in America, where he scored a vital winner against Benfica in the last-16. His time at Stamford Bridge has not gone to plan, though, with two frustrating years.

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Should Chelsea manage to get a deal for Nkunku over the line, it would pave the way for them to bring in Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig as an effective replacement. Talks with Simons are ongoing over a complicated transfer.

Chelsea are still in the process of trying to sell members of their wider playing group including Nkunku. That stretches to Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, and Renato Veiga.

Maresca has no plans to use any of them and the decision was made not to issue out squad numbers to them either. Nkunku did get given his No.18 top but it is not likely to see him remain at SW6 for much longer.

For pre-season friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Milan last weekend, Nkunku was among those not to be named in either matchday squad. As with Nicolas Jackson, it is so that players can focus on finding new homes elsewhere.

Chelsea are keen to complete permanent transfers for as many of the above names as possible. Carney Chukwuemeka is in the same camp and would like to return to Borussia Dortmund, where he spent the second half of last season on loan.

Nkunku, as one of the premier attackers in Europe for the three years before he joined Chelsea, is still only 27 and has plenty to offer. Although his return of just six league goals is deeply underwhelming, there have been mitigating factors throughout.

Nkunku had scored 70 times in 172 games at Leipzig before Chelsea triggered his £52million release clause. His name was discussed as a possible makeweight in the Simons deal.

It is also understood that Manchester City have made their own interest in Simons clear.Pep Guardiola's men are planning for life without Savinho, who could be on his way to Tottenham.

In a game of transfer dominoes, Bayern may well hold the key to all of this with Nkunku and, therefore, Simons. Once Kingsley Coman completes his own move away from Germany to Saudi Arabia, matters with Nkunku could speed up.

For Chelsea, the sooner the better as they aim to get Simons in. It is too late for him to be registered ahead of the first game of the new season, but Chelsea will not want it to turn into a saga that drags on into the final days of the window.

Maresca takes his team to West Ham before Fulham make the short trip across west London prior to deadline day on September 1. Chelsea will have until 7pm to get their business done and will not want it to come down to the latter hours.