Exclusive: Manchester United have advantage in race for ‘unbelievable’ midfielder who is ‘brilliant to watch’

Manchester United are on the hunt for new players in the summer transfer window, and they may now have put themselves in a good position to sign a Netherlands international star.

With Erik ten Hag staying at United, INEOS are planning to strengthen the current squad so that the team can be more competitive next season than they were in the 2023-24 campaign.

One of the players that United are looking at potentially signing in the summer transfer window is Xavi Simons.

And, the Premier League giants have an advantage in securing the services of the Netherlands international attacking midfielder

Manchester United stance on Xavi Simons

HITC understands that Simons’s situation is of interest to United. The Red Devils are one of the few interested sides who could consider taking him on loan without an option.

Simons was outstanding for RB Leipzig last season. The 21-year-old, who is part of the Netherlands squad for UEFA Euro 2024, scored 10 goals and gave 15 assists in 43 matches in all competitions for the German club.

Leipzig would like the chance to keep him on loan for the next campaign, but Simons’s future is yet to be resolved.

The playmaker’s parent club, Paris Saint-Germain, are ready to let him spend another season on loan away from the French capital – if that is what he wants.

HITC understands that Simons has previously told PSG that he would like the chance to switch back to Barcelona where he spent his youth career before moving to France.

While Barca do have an interest in Simons, keeping Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid and signing a winger, likely Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, is their priority.

Barcelona’s priorities have allowed other clubs to take an interest in Simons. Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Bayern Munich have all had contact with the 21-year-old playmaker’s representatives and also with PSG.

PSG have made it clear that they have no plans to sell Simons, but the French giants would send him out on loan.

There is one condition, though. PSG would not include an option to make the deal permanent.

That is not an appealing scenario for almost all the interest parties – apart from United, who are open to the idea.

This means that the Red Devils have an advantage over some of their rivals for the signature of Simons, who is rated highly by Arsenal legend Ian Wright.

Speaking on the Wrighty’s House podcast in March while discussing his performance against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, Wright described Simons as an “unbelievable” player who is “brilliant to watch”.

Manchester United scout Poland vs Netherlands Euro 2024 match

Meanwhile, HITC understands that United were in Hamburg over the weekend to check on interested talents in the UEFA Euro 2024 game between Poland and the Netherlands.

United hold an interest in number of players in the Dutch camp including Simons, Denzel Dumfries and Jeremie Frimpong, who all featured.

United have also had contacts about Matthijs De Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee, who were unused substitutes.

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