Man Utd's perfect Benjamin Sesko partner in crime heading to Chelsea after going nuclear

Benjamin Sesko's team-mate Xavi Simons has been left out of RB Leipzig's squad for a pre-season friendly, as the Dutchman looks set to move to Chelsea. The Netherlands international has been tracked by the Blues throughout the summer, but a move is now beginning to look inevitable.

Simons, 22, recently deleted the Bundesliga side from his Instagram bio, in what was a clear sign he wants to depart the club. The midfielder has played alongside Sesko for many years and has regularly heralded the striker as being one of the finest young players in the world. He also looks set to move to the Premier League, except it is Newcastle United and Manchester United who are pursuing him. United have been linked with Simons in the past, but a move never came to fruition. They may quietly be regretting their decision, as Simons has never hidden how much he loves playing with the forward and vice versa.

The pair, who have combined for nine goals, could've continued their deadly form together had they joined the same Premier League side, but that looks unlikely now.

In January, Simons took part in a question-and-answer session, where he was asked to rank other young players in the world. After choosing Kobbie Mainoo over Warren Zaire-Emery, Simons was then asked to pit the young United midfielder against Sesko, and he instantly chose the young striker.

The United and Newcastle target repaid the favour when he highlighted his admiration for the Dutchman, after the midfielder signed permanently for Leipzig in January. When Simons scored a brace against Werder Bremen, Sesko said: "I love to play with him. He makes things fun. I'm really happy for his two goals because now he is going to have even more confidence."

He could've been the perfect foil for Sesko had United also pursued a move for him, but instead Ruben Amorim is just focusing on the Slovenian.

Simons was recently left out of Leipzig's squad that is facing Atalanta in a friendly. It was confirmed by Sky Sports there is no injury to the ex-Barcelona prodigy and that he is absent because of the transfer speculation around him.

He has made it clear to his club that he wants to move to Stamford Bridge. Fabrizio Romano claims talks between Chelsea and Leipzig are at an "advanced" stage.

The German side are understood to be looking for £60million to part with him. Chelsea have already spent a large amount of money having bought Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and several others.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have made a formal offer for Sesko. The Magpies, who are at risk of losing Alexander Isak this summer, have bid £65.5m, with add-ons understood to be valued at around £4.3m.

The Magpies have already seen many top targets turn them down this summer for other moves. Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford recently snubbed their advances so he could return to Manchester City.

He was the latest in a long line of players to reject the club after Pedro, Delap and Hugo Ekitike.