Arsenal are keen on signing a winger in the summer transfer window, and one long-term target could be back on the agenda.
Mikel Arteta is keen on adding a speedy wide option to his squad, with Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao linked, but a player he previously tried to sign is seemingly available this summer.
Xavi Simons excelled on loan at RB Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain this season, and his long-term future is unclear. It now appears that PSG want to loan him out again.
Arsenal tried to sign Simons last summer after an excellent campaign at PSV Eindhoven, but they were left frustrated as PSG exercised a buyback clause before then loaning him out again.
However, despite a permanent deal looking off the cards this summer, Arsenal could benefit from taking Simons on a loan deal, and they could repeat a previous transfer masterstroke in doing so.
Arsenal could sign Xavi Simons on loan from PSG this summer
Fabrizio Romano has now reported that PSG are set to loan out Simons this summer, and that he will be able to choose where he goes depending on the interest in him. They have no intention of selling yet, but it appears that he is keen on another spell away from the French capital.
“New loan move was and remains the most likely solution for Xavi Simons. More talks with PSG and decision to follow soon, but loan remains priority,” he posted on X.
This means that if Arsenal enter the race to sign him, they can add him to the squad this season at a minimal cost, freeing up funds to strengthen other areas of the squad, and given that Arteta’s side are competing in the Champions League, he may be open to a move to the Emirates.
Arsenal can repeat Martin Odegaard transfer masterclass with Xavi Simons
One of Arsenal’s best signings under Arteta has been captain Martin Odegaard, but the deal to bring him to the Emirates involved a lot of luck.
Odegaard excelled with Real Sociedad on loan, so much so that Real Madrid cut his two-year loan contract halfway through.
However, Zinedine Zidane was not convinced he was ready to be part of the team, and he spent half a season on the bench before Arsenal signed him on an initial loan.
Arsenal offered Odegaard a settled future after several loan spells away from Real Madrid, and he joined for what now seems like a bargain fee.
READ MORE: All Mikel Arteta signings at Arsenal ranked from worst to best
Arteta may hope he can offer Simons a similar future as a wonderkid like Odegaard was at his age. Simons has constantly moved around, and becoming a key player at PSG may still take some time.
If Simons joins Arsenal and excels on loan, they could try to convince PSG to part ways with him permanently, and if like Odegaard, both club and player agree, they could secure the future of one of Europe’s brightest attacking talents.