Xavi Simons is a 21-year-old Dutch forward who is currently contracted to PSG, though he has excelled out on loan over the past couple of years with fruitful stints at both PSV and RB Leipzig having drawn interest from Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.
After an impressive campaign last season in East Germany with RB Leipzig where he registered 10 goals and 15 assists from 43 games in all competitions, Simons further put himself in the spotlight at EURO 2024.
Simons featured in each of The Netherlands’ six games at the competition, starting in five whilst providing three assists and scoring one goal, a stunner against England in the semi-finals.
His performances have put him on the radar of numerous clubs around the world including both Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig who are said to be interested in loaning the Dutchman from PSG for the upcoming campaign.
It now seems as though Man Utd have focused their attention on Simons after the captures of Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro, with a swap deal involving Simons and Manuel Ugarte from PSG and Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho from United being reported.
Sancho has recently returned to first-team training at United following a bust-up with Ten Hag last season, whilst 29-year-old captain Fernandes is coming off the back of another productive campaign for the Red Devils with 10 goals and eight assists in the league.
It remains to be seen whether or not United would entertain such an offer for PSG, though their interest in both Simons and Ugarte is said to be genuine.
What is Simons like as a player and how does he compare to Fernandes?
Fernandes has arguably been Man Utd’s best player since he joined the club back in January 2020 for €65m (£54.6m), having contributed to 79 goals and 66 assists in 233 games in all competitions for the Red Devils.
Having signed a new deal at Old Trafford in April 2022 until the summer of 2026 with an option to extend for a further year, United will not be desperate to move on the Portuguese international anytime soon.
However, Simons, who is eight years Fernandes’ junior, is reportedly highly thought of by United boss and compatriot Ten Hag and any move for the young Dutchman may see Fernandes head the other way.
Since his breakout season with PSV in the 2022-2023 campaign where he notched 22 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, Simons has gone on to establish himself as one of the brightest young prospects in world football following an excellent spell on loan at RB Leipzig last campaign.
Though they both play in similar positions, they are quite different from each other in how they play.
What is Simons like as a player?
Standing at 179cm (5ft 10) tall, Simons is adept at playing as either a number 10 or out on the left wing where he can cut in on his favoured right foot, as when he has the ball at his feet and can run at the opposition he really thrives.
Last season for RB Leipzig, Simons played a lot of his football out on the left wing or as the left attacking midfielder in a 4-2-2-2 under manager Marco Rose.
