Decision made! Arsenal target Xavi Simons has picked his next club

Tom Weber

• Updated: 29 May 2024 15:53 BST
• 3 min read

Xavi Simons is keen on returning to Barcelona this summer, according to Spanish media.

The Dutchman is one of Europe's most in-demand players and he is expected to be on the move in the upcoming transfer window. Despite enjoying an incredible season on loan at RB Leipzig, PSG are willing to let Simons depart the club temporarily again.

As part of their exercising their bargain buy-back option last year, PSG had to make the concession of giving the player full control over his future and they will not stand in his way if he chooses to leave the club on loan again this summer.

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The likes of Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have all been credited with an interest in the 21-year-old, while RB Leipzig are also keen to keep him around for another season. Simons wants to have his future resolved before the start of Euro 2024 on June 14 and it seems he has now made up his mind.

Simons wants Barca

At least that is according to Mundo Deportivo, which claims that the youngster is keen on returning to Barcelona. Having spent nine years in the Catalans' famed La Masia academy, Simons is still fond of his former side and would like to finally play for the senior team after previously seeing his path blocked, which prompted him to move to Paris.

Simons, it is claimed by MD and Footmercato, has no intention of playing for PSG next season and instead wants to head back to Spain. Though Barcelona would naturally like to re-sign their former wonderkid permanently, the fact that he is only available on loan is actually described as a 'boon' for them.

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The Blaugrana know full well that they wouldn't be able to afford the Dutchman and a straight loan without any potential or obligatory purchase options will ease any Financial Fair Play concerns. This is the exact same course of action they took last summer with the loan arrivals of Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo, with neither deal having a purchase option.