Manchester United poised to hijack Manchester City’s Xavi Simons deal | OneFootball

Despite no deal being reached during the past transfer window, it appears that Manchester United are refusing to give up on the possibility of signing RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons.

For much of the summer, Man United exhibited a strong interest in the Dutch forward, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that the club’s interest in Simons intensified after his performance in Euro 2024 for the Netherlands.

Ultimately, a deal remained a long way away, with Simons hinting at the prospect of returning to Leipzig on another loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain.

In July, this suggestion proved true, as he signed onto another one-year loan with Leipzig.

Even as he returns to Germany, however, United have not given up on their pursuit of the Dutch forward.

Christian Falk, the head of football at the BILD Group, revealed that United may just manage to hijack a potential deal for Simons being formulated by bitter rivals Manchester City.

“United and Liverpool were interested in the player historically, but also Manchester City are in the race and he would be a perfect fit for Pep Guardiola’s system,” Falk noted. He also revealed why United may be ahead in the race to sign Simons.

“Liverpool have a coach who can speak the same language. There’s a Dutch coach also present at Manchester United. So, these offer huge chances for either club,” he explained, suggesting that Simons would appreciate playing under a coach who speaks the same language.

For United, Simons is a young, versatile player who could significantly bolster their attacking options over the long-term future.

It’s no secret that Erik ten Hag is a fan of the Dutch rising star, praising Simons for his performance against England in the Euro 2024 semifinals.

“I enjoyed Xavi Simons in that game. The drive he has, the passion with which he conquers balls and recognises situations are top,” Ten Hag stated. “His enormous drive as well. That is almost un-Dutch. I think you can see that he was trained abroad. He almost has a southern European doggedness in his game.”

Of course, Simons’ impressive performances extend beyond his appearances for the Netherlands. He was a key player for Leipzig last season, scoring eight goals and providing 13 assists in 32 Bundesliga games last season.

Although Simons’ market value is €80 million, according to Transfermarkt, United may just manage to afford him comfortably should they do adequate financial planning before bidding on the player once his loan deal expires.

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