CONFIRMED: Bayern Munich target Euro 2024 star Xavi Simons

Updated: 11 Jul 2024 16:08 BST
4 min read

Xavi Simons, The Transfers Podcast — © IMAGO

Euro 2024 star Xavi Simons is the subject of a transfer pursuit from Bayern Munich, The Transfers Podcast has been told.

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Dutch midfielder Simons is very much in control of his own destiny owing to a clause in his Paris Saint-Germain contract.

The 21-year-old first signed for PSG from Barcelona back in 2021 in a free agent deal orchestrated by former sporting director Leonardo. He was subsequently sold to PSV Eindhoven after only one season, with a buyback clause of €6 million.

Simons scored 19 goals in 34 games and won the KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) back in his homeland in an outstanding season, prompting PSG to exercise the buyback.

He was then loaned to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, where he excelled last season.

STATS

32

Games
8

Goals
11

Assists

Covering a range of midfield and attacking positions, Simons scored 10 goals in 43 matches overall and went into Euro 2024 with his future undecided.

Bayern have identified Simons as a transfer target this summer as they seek to reverse what was one of their worst seasons in decades.

“PSG ideally would like to keep the player,” Duncan Castles told The Transfers Podcast. “They'd like to reintegrate him into their squad.

“He's in many ways the perfect fit for what they've done over the last year, which is get rid of all the highly-paid, expensive stars, and move towards a model of signing the best young players in the world and building a squad that can win the Champions League off the back of it.”

However it is Simons who holds the cards in any forthcoming deal with the player having the option to extend his stay at Leipzig for another year due to the unusual clause in his deal.

The Red Bull-owned outfit for their part would like him to remain with the club.

© IMAGO - Xavi Simons has been in action for Netherlands at Euro 2024

PSG slap €100m asking price on Simons

Furthermore, Simons will NOT have to leave PSG on a full-time basis unless the club’s asking price is met.

That figure currently stands at €100 million for an outstanding young player who is under contract at Parc des Princes until 2027.

Bayern do not want to go that high and have already spent considerable sums during this window on Hiroki Ito, Michael Olise and Joao Palhinha.

PSG cannot force Simons to return to PSG for the coming season so must either persuade the 20-cap Dutchman to come back, loan him to Leipzig again or else sell to another suitor.

There is also interest from the Premier League but as yet no bids have been received from England.

“He was the player that Thierry Henry almost anointed as his successor,” said French football expert Philippe Auclair on The Transfers Podcast.

“If they're losing that player, who could be really one of the key foundation stones of the new PSG, that's not good.”