Barcelona have been very keen to sign Xavi Simons from PSG on a loan deal but as per the latest reports, the Catalans have now cooled off their interest.
New manager Hansi Flick is said to be an admirer of the 21-year-old but the club’s management cannot generate the required finances to bring Simons on a loan deal which is why they have backed off. As per Fabrizio Romano, Barca feel signing him will be a lot complicated with so many big European clubs interested in the midfielder.
Xavi Simons spent the 23/24 season out on loan to RB Leipzig and the Netherlands international had 25 goal contributions in 43 appearances. He had 13 assists in the Bundesliga and was one of the most exciting youngsters in Germany.
Are Barcelona right in missing out on Xavi Simons?
Deco and Hansi Flick are both very interested in the midfielder but their finances will just not allow them to sign him, even on a loan deal.
As per the latest updates, Barcelona need to generate at least €100 million if they wish to sign new players and in such a scenario, they cannot afford to inflate their wage bills even further.
Also, Barcelona know they won’t be able to make this loan deal permanent next year either which is why they are probably focusing on permanent targets like Bernardo Silva. For a brief period, there were talks that Hansi Flick referred Xavi Simons over Silva but it seems like the club has denied that request and that too for a genuine reason.
Which club is now the favourite to sign the midfielder?
Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United have been keeping a close eye on Simons’ situation at PSG but the experts believe that now it’s Bayern Munich who are standing at the front of the queue. Simons has demanded Champions League football from his next club and neither of the two English sides can offer him that luxury next season.
Vincent Kompany has already given the green light for this move and if Chelsea or United do not make a late and crazy dash, Xavi Simons is heading back to Germany. Man United or Chelsea have the money to outbid the Bavarians but since this is just a loan move, the player’s reference will be the decisive factor and there’s no way a prodigy like him will want to play in the Europa or the Conference League next campaign.
Xavi Simons is expected to make a final decision on his future only after the European Championship but a move to the Premier League can certainly be ruled out at the moment.
PSG have made it clear that they do not plan to sell the midfielder on a permanent deal so Bayern Munich will have to be content with a season-long loan deal with hopes that they can make it permanent next year.
