Fabrizio Romano issues Chelsea 'priority' update after Jorrel Hato amid Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho updates

Chelsea are said to be making real headway with a potential defensive signing as they continue their efficient summer transfer window. The Blues wasted no time strengthening their attack, snapping up Liam Delap early on and then adding Joao Pedro and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens at still relatively early stages of the window.

The Blues have sold Noni Madueke since then, leaving them in need of another winger, but they are now in a more relaxed position as they skim through their targets. Meanwhile, Chelsea are looking to snap up a defender to improve the depth they have in the back line, with Enzo Maresca hoping to land another starting-calibre defender.

Chelsea already have plenty of defenders between Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo, but the final two on that list could be axed in favour of a higher quality option.

That higher quality option could well be Ajax centre-back Jorrel Hato, who fits Chelsea’s strategy of being a young player with a huge upside. The 19-year-old is already a regular at senior level, and he could now be set for a Stamford Bridge switch.

Fabrizio Romano has posted: “Chelsea have reached agreement on personal terms with Jorrel Hato and the defender has asked Ajax to leave! Negotiations advancing to final stages, as fee discussed now is around €40m. Hato informed Ajax management and the manager of his clear desire to join #CFC.”

The Hato deal looks close to being done, and some at Chelsea may already be thinking about what the next move will be. It’s likely the Blues will turn their attention to the winger situation, with Maresca needing a replacement for Madueke.

Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho is a possible option, and if Chelsea choose to engage in talks, it seems as though a deal could progress pretty quickly now that the winger has been left out of the Red Devils’ pre-season tour squad. But it seems RB Leipzig’s attacking midfielder Xavi Simons is the priority for now.

Providing an update on the situation, Romano added: “Alejandro Garnacho wants Premier League move… and Chelsea remain again attentive to the situation. No club to club talks but still one of the names on the shortlist. Priority remains to advance on Xavi Simons at this stage.”

It’s unclear whether it is an either or situation with Simons and Garnacho at this stage, but Simons is principally an attacking midfielder. Though, he can play out wide, and given the presence of Cole Palmer, it would be a surprise to see Chelsea spend so much on a player if they only see him as a back-up for Palmer. Should Chelsea sign Simons and Garnacho, they would have plenty of options across the front five positions, including the number 10 role, even with Christopher Nkunku expected to leave the club before the end of the summer. Maresca may have more tough decisions to make.

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