Manchester United have received a boost in their pursuit of Xavi Simons, as the 21-year-old reportedly no longer sees a future at Paris Saint-Germain.
Simons, a product of Barcelona's academy, moved to PSG in 2021 before returning to the Netherlands to join PSV Eindhoven, where he scored 22 goals in the 2022-23 league season.
The 21-year-old's impressive performance in the Eredivisie prompted the Ligue 1 champions to activate a £5m buyback clause before he was loaned to RB Leipzig, where he notched up eight goals and 11 assists in the Bundesliga last season.
However, the Dutchman's future remains uncertain as he has yet to establish himself at PSG and speculation is growing that he could be poised for a high-profile move away from the Parc des Princes in the next transfer window.
Simons looking for permanent move away from Parc des Princes
Manchester United were among several Premier League clubs linked with Simons over the summer, but the PSG star ultimately rejoined RB Leipzig on a season-long loan.
However, the Red Devils have now received a significant boost in the pursuit of the 21-year-old, with Sport Bild reporting that the Dutch attacker is 'keen' on a move to the Premier League.
The report adds that the player is valued at around £68m by PSG, and he is now ready to find a permanent move away from the French capital, having failed to nail down a place in the first-team setup.
It is understood that United will face stiff competition to secure Simons' signature, though, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund also showing interest in acquiring his services.
The 21-year-old has featured in all three of Leipzig's league matches this season and his current deal with PSG runs until the summer of 2027.
Leipzig struggle to afford Simons signing
RB Leipzig are keen to retain the services of Simons on a permanent basis but PSG's asking price is believed to be more than the Bundesliga are able to afford.
Speaking to the media, Leipzig managing director Oliver Mintzlaff told reporters: "Our management has to negotiate that with PSG.
"For now, he is on loan. But, of course, our goal is to keep top players like him on a long-term basis. We've now shown that it's possible, even against strong competition."
Mintzlaff added: "[Benjamin] Sesko had substantial offers, including from the Premier League, but he chose to stay with us and even extended his contract."
As it stands, Leipzig's most expensive player is Lois Openda, who cost them in the region of £38m, meaning they would need to almost double the club's record signing fee to get a deal for Simons over the line. body check tags ::
