Xavi Simons signs, Alejandro Garnacho deal, Estevao Willian mission - Chelsea to-do list this week

We are now just 13 days away from Chelsea kicking off their 2025/26 season when Crystal Palace come to Stamford Bridge on August 17.

Less than two weeks to go and for the Blues, there is still so much to do - both on and off the pitch - before they get their campaign under way. There are plenty of deals being worked on behind the scenes, with Chelsea looking to offload a number of players, as well as bring in a couple - or perhaps more - before the transfer deadline on September 1.

The sporting directors will continue to work on transfer-related business in private, while Enzo Maresca and his players will be turning their focus on the new season. So, with it being the start of a new week, football.london has created a to-do list for Chelsea to complete over the coming days.

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Wrap up Simons deal

Chelsea are continuing their pursuit of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. The Blues have been locked in talks with the German club for the 22-year-old for almost two weeks and progress has been slow. However, football.london understands there remains a confidence from the Dutchman's entourage that a deal will be concluded eventually.

Simons, crucially, wants to join Chelsea and has a broad agreement over personal terms with the west London club. There has not, though, been an agreement between the two clubs just yet.

Chelsea will be hoping to get the deal wrapped up in the coming week in order to get the Netherlands international training with his prospective new teammates as soon as possible. As much time as he can get at the training ground with his potential new colleagues will only help Simons settle in quicker.

Garnacho work

As revealed on football.london last week, Chelsea retain an interest in Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United. Nothing is imminent regarding the Argentina international but the Blues remain keen on signing him before next month's deadline.

United boss Ruben Amorim all but confirmed over the weekend that Garnacho will be departing Old Trafford this summer. The 21-year-old winger is said to be keen on Chelsea's project and a move to Stamford Bridge, though there are not understood to be any club-to-club talks over a deal just yet.

Chelsea are continuing to work on Simons and if/when they complete the signing of the versatile Dutchman, their focus is expected to be on outgoings.

Preparation begins

Those that participated in the FIFA Club World Cup are set to return to, or be introduced to for the first time, Chelsea's training base in Cobham today (Monday). As exclusively reported last month, the Blues will be beginning their preparations for the upcoming campaign today after being allowed more than three weeks off following their triumph in the United States.

The likes of Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens are set to train with their new teammates for the first time since signing from Palmeiras and Borussia Dortmund, respectively. The Chelsea players will know all about what Estevao has to offer after he scored against the Blues in the quarter-final of the Club World Cup last month in Phildelphia, but the Brazilian will have the chance to team up with them for the first time later today.

It will be interesting what Maresca does with Estevao in his first sessions with the teenager. He was predominantly used on the right wing during his time with Palmeiras, but he can also be deployed in a more central role. Considering the options in the squad, one would assume it would be a wide role for Estevao.