Manchester United join Arsenal in £51m transfer race for PSG attacker Xavi Simons

Xavi Simons’ PSG future remains uncertain (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United have joined Arsenal in this summer’s fiercely contested transfer race for Paris Saint-Germain winger Xavi Simons.

A product of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Simons completed a move to PSG in 2021 before returning to his native Netherlands in search of regular game-time with PSV Eindhoven.

A magnificent individual campaign in the 2022/23 Eredivisie followed, in which Simons notched up 19 goals and eight assists, and the Dutchman’s eye-catching performances convinced PSG to trigger a £5million buyback clause in his PSV contract.

PSG immediately loaned Simons to RB Leipzig and the attacker picked up where he left off last season, racking up an impressive tally of eight goals and 11 assists in the Bundesliga.

But once again, Simons’ future remains uncertain and ‘nothing has been decided’ between the youngster and PSG, according to French publication L’Equipe.

Simons will become a PSG player again on July 1, though it’s unlikely the youngster will return to training with the Ligue 1 giants with immediate effect. It’s claimed there are three options available to the 21-year-old ahead in the summer transfer window: a reintegration back into Luis Enrique’s squad, a sale or another loan.

The report suggests that Simons plans to communicate his preference once the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 campaign is over, with Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Bayern Munich all said to have ‘expressed their interest’.

The Dutchman enjoyed an impressive Bundesliga campaign with RB Leipzig (Picture: Getty)

It’s claimed a new loan is ‘the most likely hypothesis’ given a large proportion of the sum from a permanent transfer would go to PSV rather than PSG – due to the agreement they reached last year – and it is not in the Parisians’ best interest to sell at this stage.

The attacker’s current contract at the Parc des Princes runs through to the summer of 2027.

Speaking to Eindhoven Dagblad earlier this month, Simons – who is reportedly valued at €60million (£51m) – confirmed he would resume discussions with PSG after Euro 2024.

‘I will make a decision after the European Championships and a short break,’ he said.

‘I want to be focussed on the tournament because that is my current priority and afterwards already will speak with the PSG.’

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