Xavi Simons has been on the wanted list for Premier League clubs for a decade. He was 12 years old with an eye-catching shock of blond hair and presence on the ball that belied his tender years when Chelsea first made their interest known.
The Blues were scouring the globe for elite academy talent at the time and Simons was a hot property having dazzled for Barcelona’s Under 12s at the La Liga Promises tournament in Miami.
Chelsea’s efforts were foiled when Simons opted to stay in Catalonia, then chose Paris Saint-Germain when he left at 16, and they were still firmly on his trail this summer as it emerged that Leipzig were open to offers for the Netherlands international forward.