€80m Xavi Simons to trigger club IMPLOSION as 'transfer not ruled out'

Tom Weber

Updated: 31 Jan 2025 12:27 CST
4 min read

Xavi Simons, RB Leipzig, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

RB Leipzig are braced for summer interest in Xavi Simons despite sealing a blockbuster €80 million deal for him on Thursday, according to German media.

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The Red Bulls shocked seemingly everybody when news broke early on Thursday that they had reached an agreement to make Xavi Simons' loan deal from PSG permanent.

Later that same day, the transfer was already confirmed, with Leipzig paying a club-record €50m upfront and a potential - albeit difficult to reach - €30m in bonuses.

Yet eyebrows were raised when it was announced that Simons was only to be given a contract until 2027 and, as was already revealed on Thursday, this is due to the fact that he could make a quick exit from Leipzig in the summer.

Sky Germany has now reiterated that a summer transfer of Xavi is 'not ruled out' and credits Bayern Munich as one of his main suitors in what would be an explosive move.

Xavi Simons to trigger Bayern implosion?

Simons is also thought to be on Arsenal's radar, but Bayern already tried to sign him last summer. Max Eberl, the man who initially brought him to Leipzig, is now calling the shots in Munich and was determined to reunite with the Dutchman.

No transfer ultimately materialised but Eberl will continue to push for Simons in the next summer window. However, Kicker reports that internally at Bayern, the director is growing increasingly unpopular.

It is claimed that other Bayern bosses are unhappy with Eberl's failure to free up funds and are worried that the club could end the financial year without a profit.

Eberl was hired for his recruitment expertise but his tasks also included offloading big earners who were no longer pulling their weight and so far, he has failed to do this, yet he splashed out lavishly on new signings in the summer.

Moreover, some within the club are disappointed with how the contract negotiations with stars like Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies have unfolded. It is believed that Eberl made too many concessions and that these massive new deals have been needlessly inflated.

On a positive note, Eberl now looks set to at least make a good bit of profit on Mathys Tel, with Bayern having agreed a whopping €60m deal with Tottenham for the €20m signing.

However, this money could immediately be reinvested in Christopher Nkunku for whom Chelsea are demanding €70m. He would be another huge signing while pressure is thought to be growing on Eberl to get his ducks in a row.

A deal for Nkunku may not be in the club's best interest, especially given that they are pursuing a marquee summer signing as well and will need to have sizeable funds available.

This signing will either be top target Florian Wirtz, who won't cost under €100m, or the aforementioned Xavi, who will also likely cost at least €80m. This profligate spending from Eberl could trigger a veritable implosion at 'FC Hollywood.'