{"id":357887,"date":"2025-08-19T22:42:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T22:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/357887\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T22:42:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T22:42:14","slug":"chelsea-now-fighting-spurs-to-sign-39m-legend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/357887\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea now fighting Spurs to sign \u00a339m “legend”"},"content":{"rendered":"

The draw against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon might have put a slight dampener on things, but this season still feels like it could be a great one for Chelsea<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Enzo Maresca’s<\/a> side are finally back in the Champions League<\/a> and, based on what we saw over the summer, look like they could be one of the most dangerous teams in the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Moreover, with the transfer window still open for just under two weeks, there is plenty of time for the Blues to get even stronger.<\/p>\n

\"Chelsea<\/p>\n

One of the players most heavily touted for a move to Stamford Bridge has been Xavi Simons, although the West Londoners are now being linked to someone who’d be a more critical signing, someone who is also being linked with cross-city rivals Tottenham Hotspur.<\/p>\n

Chelsea race Spurs for more important signing than Simons<\/strong><\/p>\n

While there have been sporadic reports linking Simons with a move to Chelsea for a few years now, they began to really pick up steam earlier this summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Since then, there has been a steady stream of stories touting the RB Leipzig star for a move to Stamford Bridge, and while there have been moments when it seemed unlikely, it now appears to be just a matter of time.<\/p>\n

However, even though the Dutchman is an extraordinarily talented attacker who amassed a tally of 19 goal involvements in 33 games last season, there is another international the Blues are now looking at who’d be a far more critical signing.<\/p>\n

\"Xavi-Simons-Chelsea\"<\/p>\n

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain<\/a>, which has claimed Chelsea are still very interested in Piero Hincapi\u00e9.<\/p>\n

However, the West Londoners are not the only ones interested in the imposing centre-back, as Tottenham Hotspur are also racing to secure his signature.<\/p>\n

On top of beating the North Londoners, Chelsea will have to stump up a fee in excess of \u20ac45m, which is about \u00a339m, and while that’s certainly a lot, it would be worth it, especially as Hincapi\u00e9 would be a more important addition to the squad than Simons.<\/p>\n

Why Hincapi\u00e9 would be a more important signing than Simons<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now, Simons would undoubtedly have a sizable impact on this Chelsea side, as over the last few seasons, he has more than proven his ability as a winger and number ten.<\/p>\n

\"Chelsea-Xavi-Simons\"<\/p>\n

Chelsea-Xavi-Simons<\/p>\n

However, at this point in time and in the foreseeable future, we’d say that Hincapi\u00e9 would be far more of a game-changer for the Blues, and one of the main reasons why is down to the makeup of the squad.<\/p>\n

For example, while they did look somewhat blunt against Palace on Sunday, the Conference League champions have an abundance of exciting and dynamic attacking talent in the squad.<\/p>\n

\"tosin-adarabioyo-chelsea\"<\/p>\n

Chelsea’s Tosin Adarabioyo and Joao Pedro celebrate.<\/p>\n

Moreover, we still haven’t seen what the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens might be able to do with a run of Premier League appearances under Maresca.<\/p>\n

In contrast, the Argentine’s defensive options are starting to look a little thin, especially with Levi Colwill out for potentially the season and Tosin Asarabioyo missing the match at the weekend.<\/p>\n

Moreover, while the incredibly exciting Jorrel Hato might be the perfect solution in a few years from now, it would be unfair and unwise to throw him in at the deep end at just 19 years old and with no experience of playing in a top-five league.<\/p>\n

The second reason the Leverkusen star would be such an essential addition to the team is that, on top of being defensively solid, he’s a great passer and carrier of the ball, which should help massively in build-up play.<\/p>\n

\"Piero<\/p>\n

Piero Hincapie in action for Bayer Leverkusen<\/p>\n

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty expected goals plus assists, the top 2% for crosses into the penalty area, the top 5% for progressive carries, the top 6% for key passes and more, all per 90.<\/p>\n

Finally, with a Bundesliga title and DFB Pokal under his belt, the “Ecuadorian football legend in the making<\/a>,” as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, would bring a real know-how and maturity to this Blues side, which could be crucial in a season where they should be challenging for silverware.<\/p>\n\n

Hincapi\u00e9 Scout Report<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n\n

Statistics<\/p>\n

Per 90<\/p>\n

Percentile<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Non-Penalty Expected G+As<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 1%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Progressive Passes Received<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

2.35<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 2%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

xA: Expected Assists<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 2%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Crosses into Penalty Area<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 2%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Tackles (Att 3rd)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.29<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 2%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Touches (Att 3rd)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

12.16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 2%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Crosses<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 3%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Carries into Penalty Area<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 3%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Fouls Drawn<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 4%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Progressive Carries<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.65<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 5%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

SCA (Shot)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 5%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Carries into Final Third<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.41<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 5%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Key Passes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.52<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 6%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Touches (Att Pen)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.52<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 7%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Passes into Penalty Area<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.52<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 9%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Tackles Won<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.39<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

Top 9%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n

All Stats via FBref<\/a><\/p>\n<\/tr>\n

Ultimately, Simons will be a great addition to this Chelsea team, but for our money, Hincapi\u00e9 would be a far more important signing to make this summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The draw against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon might have put a slight dampener on things, but this…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":357888,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4100],"tags":[94,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-357887","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115057848971861368","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357887\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}