In recent weeks, Barcelona have emerged as a surprise contender in the race to sign Xavi Simons, who is currently plying his trade at RB Leipzig.
However, the Dutch international has always been an unrealistic option for Barcelona due to his sky-high valuation, coupled with the club’s fractured relationship with the player’s parent outfit, Paris Saint-Germain.
Barcelona bank on Dein to facilitate Simons move
That said, a recent report from SPORT has offered a rather interesting perspective on Barcelona’s pursuit of Simons.
The report has notably highlighted the presence of a key agent within Joan Laporta’s ranks – Darren Dein.
Darren is the son of David Dein, president and shareholder of Arsenal for 25 years between 1983 and 2007. He has joined Laporta’s close circle and is now playing a key role in helping facilitate negotiations.
Will Xavi Simons return to his former club Barcelona next summer? (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Darren played a key role in helping Barcelona reach an agreement with Nike over a new deal that is set to bring in fresh revenue for the club.
Dein, whose sports agency represents Simons, can now play a key role in aiding Barcelona in signing the Dutch international.
Of course, Barça must find an agreement with PSG if they are to sign the former La Masia starlet.
But with the help of Dein, the club can potentially leverage the player’s desire to play for Barcelona to put pressure on PSG.
For the time being, though, Simons is still on loan at Leipzig until the end of the season, meaning Barcelona can only approach the former youth graduate next summer.