Chelsea remain locked in talks with RB Leipzig over a deal to sign Xavi Simons this summer and the west Londoners have now been handed a significant boost on that front

Chelsea have stepped up their pursuit of RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons, sources have told ESPN. The 21-year-old is open to joining the Premier League club and Leipzig are willing to sell despite only signing Simons on a permanent basis in January for an initial fee of €50 million ($58.8m).

RB Leipzig are thought to be demanding a final fee of at least €70 million (£60.8 million, $82.1 million)—which would take Chelsea’s total outlay this summer to north of €300 million (£260.4 million, $351.9 million), comparable to the record-breaking figures bandied around by Liverpool.