With barely a week left in the summer transfer window, Chelsea do not have a lot of time left to get deals over the line and need to move quickly. Moves for Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho have been on standby on weeks as it is believed that the Blues will need to complete exits first before being able to bring in new players. Of course, that always comes with a risk.
In the Simons case, for example, other clubs have been trying to make a breakthrough as well. The likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich are interested in the Dutchman. So far, he seems intent on the move to Chelsea, but as we get closer to the end of the window and a move remains stalled, he might start having second thoughts.
So, Chelsea need to get their exits sanctioned quickly and then move forward with the signings they are looking to make. There is a positive update in that regard.
Chelsea are now set to complete not one but two exits at the start of the week, albeit one will be on loan. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, both Aaron Anselmino and Carney Chukwuemeka will undergo medicals on Monday. The deals have been agreed with Borussia Dortmund.
'Will undergo medical' - Fabrizio Romano confirms superb Chelsea news
Of course, those moves will take Chelsea one step closer to eventually making signings this summer. Will they be enough though? Most probably not.
It feels like at least one of Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku has to depart in order to unlock the deals for Simons and Garnacho. There has been plenty of reported interest in both Chelsea players but nothing concrete has materialised so far.
The longer it takes, the more likely it is that Chelsea might need to compromise, whether it be on the transfer fee or accept a loan. Let's see how things play out over the coming week.
As for Chukwuemeka and Anselmino, this looks like the right step for both of them. The former clearly did not have much of a future at Chelsea under the management of Enzo Maresca and can now hopefully play more regular football at a top European club. The latter was struggling for gametime at Stamford Bridge as well. Borussia Dortmund's record of developing players does provide hope though that he will be first-team ready by the time he returns from his loan spell in Germany.