Manchester United are showing a strong interest in Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking midfielder, Xavi Simons, according to a report by L’Équipe. Their interest in Simons faces stiff competition from Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig. Simons, who is 21 years old, had an impressive loan period at Leipzig last season. He scored eight goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions, contributing significantly to Leipzig securing a spot in the Champions League. His remarkable performance did not go unnoticed as he also played a crucial role for the Netherlands in Euro 2024, catching the eye of several top European clubs.
PSG seems willing to let go of Simons if they receive a suitable offer. According to L’Équipe, Manchester United has been in talks regarding Simons for over a year, but they are up against considerable competition from both Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig. United have already made two signings this summer, Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro, and they are now targeting PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who has reportedly agreed to the move.
Simons, who has the versatility to play on the wings, has had a notable development journey through Barcelona’s La Masia and PSG’s youth system. During the 2022/23 season, he made a significant impact at PSV, where he scored 22 goals in 48 games under the management of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Van Nistelrooy, who is now assisting Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, might play a crucial role in the club’s efforts to sign Simons.
Following his successful stint at PSV, PSG re-signed Simons for €6 million and loaned him to Leipzig, where he continued to excel. His performances at Leipzig have been impressive enough for the German club to consider making the move permanent. His Champions League performances even earned praise from Ian Wright, who called him “unbelievable” on his podcast.
Despite Leipzig’s keen interest in retaining Simons, Bayern Munich and Manchester United have emerged as formidable contenders for his signature, complicating Leipzig’s plans. L’Équipe suggests that PSG is more inclined to initiate a bidding war for Simons rather than retaining him. Last year, PSG reportedly rejected a €50 million bid from an unnamed Premier League club, which could have been United.
Recent updates indicate that Manchester United has made a substantial offer for Simons. However, L’Équipe’s latest information suggests that the club is still in the process of preparing such a bid. United sees great value in Simons’ versatility, considering him a potential member of their attacking trio or as a backup for Bruno Fernandes, who played 47 games last season.
To fund this potentially high-cost transfer, Manchester United might need to sell some of their current players first. Reports indicate that the club needs to offload assets before they can make further moves in the transfer market, making the acquisition of Simons a complex but high-priority target for them.
