JUST IN: Agent in LONDON to negotiate deal with Arsenal over the signing of £70m winger, announcement imminent
Arsenal have reportedly sent scouts to watch Paris Saint-Germain loanee Xavi Simons at RB Leipzig.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a productive 2022-23 campaign with PSV Eindhoven, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists in 48 games across all competitions before returning to PSG last summer.
PSG, who activated a £5.1m buy-back clause in Simons’s deal, then decided to loan the attacker out to Leipzig for the current campaign, and he has contributed with seven goals and nine assists in 29 appearances.
Simons has helped Leipzig climb to fourth in the Bundesliga table at the halfway stage, while Die Roten Bullen have also progressed to the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
The Dutchman’s rise on the European stage in recent seasons is understood to have caught the eye of Arsenal, who were credited with an interest in the attacker last summer.
Arsenal were ultimately beaten by PSG in the race for Simons’s signature, but HITC claims that the Gunners are ready to reignite their interest in the youngster.
The report adds that the North Londoners recently sent scouts to watch several players in the Bundesliga, including Simons.
Leipzig striker Lois Openda and Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong are also said to be on Arsenal’s radar.
PSG, who have no plans to sell Simons in the January transfer window, are under no pressure to cash in on the attacker, who has a contract at the Parc des Princes that runs until the summer of 2027.
Arsenal must therefore wait until the summer to step up their interest in Simons, although they could face competition from Premier League rivals Manchester United, with manager Erik ten Hag said to be an admirer of the Dutchman.
Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Inter Milan have also been credited with an interest, but it is thought that Simons could favour a move to the Premier League if he were to leave PSG.
Arsenal have also been tipped to sign a new centre-forward at some stage this year, with Brentford’s Ivan Toney, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee and Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface all said to be among their list of target.
