Scouts from Arsenal are allegedly keeping an eye on Xavi Simons, a Paris Saint-Germain loanee, at RB Leipzig.
Before joining PSG again last summer, the 20-year-old had a successful 2022–23 season with PSV Eindhoven, tallying 22 goals and dishing out 12 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions.
Simons has contributed seven goals and nine assists in 29 games for PSG, which then chose to loan the attacker to Leipzig for the current season after activating a £5.1 million buy-back provision in his contract.
Leipzig has advanced to the Champions League knockout stages, and Simons has helped the team move up to fourth place in the Bundesliga standings midway through the season. Die Roten Bullen have also advanced.
Arsenal is said to have shown interest in the attacker last summer, after the Dutchman’s rapid ascent to prominence on the European scene.
Although PSG finally prevailed in the battle for Simons’ signing, HITC says that Arsenal is prepared to rekindle their interest in the young player.
The article also states that scouts from North London recently saw Simons and other players in the Bundesliga.
Arsenal is reportedly keeping an eye on Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong and Leipzig striker Lois Openda.
Simons’ contract at the Parc des Princes expires in the summer of 2027, so PSG is in no hurry to cash in on the attacker. The club has no intention to sell Simons during the January transfer window.
Arsenal will therefore have to wait until the summer to increase their pursuit of Simons; nevertheless, Manchester United, a Premier League foe, may provide a challenge since manager Erik ten Hag is said to be a fan of the Dutchman.
Other teams that have reportedly shown interest include Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Inter Milan, but if Simons were to leave PSG, it’s believed that he could prefer a transfer to the Premier League.
Additionally, it has been predicted that Arsenal will recruit a new center-forward at some point this year. Ivan Toney of Brentford, Victor Osimhen of Napoli, Joshua Zirkzee of Bologna, and Victor Boniface of Leverkusen are all said to be on their list of potential targets.
