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  There is finally movement regarding Xavi Simons' future. After Bayern Munich inquired for the player but then moved on to other targets, Arsenal and Chelsea have now shown concrete interest in signing the 22-year-old RB Leipzig playmaker. Concrete Interest from Chelsea The most concrete option at the moment are Chelsea. Under owner Todd Boehly, Chelsea have been incredibly active on the transfer market, and the Dutchman might now become the latest player added to an ever-increasing list of transfers under American ownership. According to a report by Sky Sports, Chelsea have now contacted the player's camp to investigate a potential transfer. If a deal can be reached with Xavi's camp, Chelsea are willing to make an offer to Leipzig. Transfermarkt understands that the Red Bulls are seeking in the region of €70 million for the Dutch national team player, who is still under contract until 2027. Transfer History from Leipzig If an agreement can be reached, Simons would ...

  Trusting and developing youth players could be seen by many football fans as one of the most virtuous, pride-evoking and exciting aspects of the sport in the modern era. In an age of sportswashing, petrodollars and multi-club ownership, seeing young players progress through academies and into first-team squads brings an almost forgotten sense of tradition to the beautiful game. Differences Across Europe Analysis of Europe's top 10 leagues (the big five plus the top tiers in Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Turkey and Czech Republic) reveals significant differences in approaches to young talent. Turkish Süper Lig occupies the lowest position with an average of only 5.6% of minutes played by players under 22 during the 17 analyzed seasons. The lowest recorded proportion in a single season was 2.7%. This isn't surprising, as the Turkish league has long been attractive to experienced players at the end of their careers. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Dutch Eredivis...