Arsenal have reportedly suffered a blow in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Xavi Simons, who has starred on loan at RB Leipzig this season.
After Simons contributed with 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 games during a hugely productive 2022-23 campaign at PSV Eindhoven, PSG opted to trigger the £5.1m option to buy back the attacker last summer.
The French giants decided to immediately loan the 20-year-old out to Leipzig, though, where he has established himself as a star player this term, scoring nine goals and registering 11 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions.
Simons has helped Die Roten Bullen climb to fifth in the Bundesliga table, just one point behind the top four, while he also played a key role in the club reaching the last 16 of the Champions League.
The attacker's form at club level has been recognised by Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, who handed the youngster his 11th and 12th international caps earlier this month in friendlies against Scotland and Germany.
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Simons is also understood to have caught the eye of a number of European clubs including Arsenal, who allegedly sent scouts to watch the Dutchman earlier this season.
However, according to The Express, Arsenal's pursuit of Simons could be scuppered by Kylian Mbappe's expected departure from PSG this summer.
Mbappe is out of contract at the end of the season and is said to have informed PSG that he will not be renewing his deal, with Real Madrid deemed the frontrunners to sign the Frenchman on a free transfer.
It is thought that PSG will look to reintegrate Simons into Luis Enrique's first-team plans next season in an attempt to fill the significant void set to be left by Mbappe.
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Do Arsenal need to sign Xavi Simons?
Arsenal are widely expected to splash the cash again this summer, with attacking reinforcements believed to be at the top of Mikel Arteta's wishlist.
The Gunners have been linked with a plethora of centre-forwards in recent months, including Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, Brentford's Ivan Toney and Napoli's Victor Osimhen.
However, Arsenal may be required to step up their pursuit for a new winger amid uncertainty over the long-term futures of players including Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe, who have fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium.
The potential addition of a highly-rated youngster such as Simons could provide strong cover and competition for Gunners star Bukayo Saka, who remains the club's undisputed first-choice right-winger when fit.
Simons's versatility is also thought to be admired by Arsenal, with the Dutchman comfortable operating on the left flank, as a number 10 just behind a central striker or as a false nine.
Oliver Thomas
