RB Leizpig attacking midfielder Xavi Simons
RB Leizpig attacking midfielder Xavi Simons (Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Manchester United and the remainder of the Premier League were put on notice on Wednesday as Xavi Simons' future at RB Leipzig appeared to be confirmed.
The Dutchman only arrived at RB Leipzig permanently in the January transfer window having spent the past 18 months in Germany with the Red Bull club on loan. However, after results last weekend ensured that Leipzig would not be in the Champions League next season, Simons has moved quickly to set his stall out.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Simons is looking to start a new chapter away from Leipzig and that the club were aware of his decision. On Monday, Sky Sport Deutschland explained that having bought the midfielder for approximately £42m, Leipzig would be looking to secure £67m with his driving force being to play for a club that is in the Champions League.
Romano has added that a host of top Premier League clubs are looking at Simons and United have been linked in the past. United still need more players who can play in the 3-4-2-1 system that Ruben Amorim prefers and the 22-year-old would fit that bill as an attacking midfielder.
First, they would need to secure Champions League football by beating Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final but once that objective is satisfied, United have a secret weapon that could intrigue Leipzig - Jadon Sancho. In England, specifically the Premier League, Sancho's stock is low with his loan spell at Chelsea having not turned many heads.
Perhaps even more concerning for United is that the Blues are reportedly open to paying a £5m penalty to avoid signing Sancho permanently in the summer. If they decide to do that, Amorim will lose a big chunk of what was thought to be guaranteed money for his summer rebuild.
They would also be lumbered with a player who has low stock however there is still a market where Sancho is seen as a valuable asset. In both his stints in Germany with Borussia Dortmund, the winger has impressed and The Sun reported this weekend that Champions League qualified Bayer Leverkusen are watching the forward.
With such a good track record in the Bundesliga, you would imagine that Leipzig would entertain signing Sancho if he was on the table for them. United would avoid a swap deal plus cash for Simons due to its negative impact on PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules).
However, they could be more than happy to negotiate two separate deals which would solve multiple problems for both teams. Of course, this secret weapon only works if Chelsea back out of the deal for Sancho but, at this stage, this scenario would be ideal for everyone involved.
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