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Tottenham attacking midfielder Xavi Simons had long been linked with a transfer to Chelsea, but instead opted for a move to North London, departing RB Leipzig in a deal worth around 67 million euros. The Dutchman is seen as one of Europe's best prospects but the midfielder could have gone elsewhere as Chelsea were long expected to sign Simons.
The agent of Simons, Ali Barat, told the press: "Tottenham and Chelsea are both fantastic clubs. But Chelsea was always clear with us, they had certain constraints that made it difficult to move forward with discussions.
"So when the talks with Tottenham started, it became clear that this would be a project that would be a perfect fit for Xavi."
It is understood that Chelsea had to balance the books before they were able to pull the trigger on the attacking midfielder, and were unable to agree certain sales before the transfer deadline day. The failed departure of Raheem Sterling put an end to Chelsea's pursuit, and instead the Netherlands international made a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Written by Ketan Patel
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