Premier League duo Arsenal and Chelsea have had the price tag for RB Leipzig forward Xavi Simons revealed.
Both sides finished in the top five in the league and qualified for the Champions League in the upcoming campaign, and have already begun preparation.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have been busy this window, signing Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke from rivals Chelsea. They have also signed midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard.
Chelsea have also been active this window, signing the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens.
However, it seems both clubs could be looking to strengthen again as they consider an approach for RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons.
Xavi Simons has price tag revealed.
According to Football Insider, Simons is available to sign for a fee in excess of £60 million this summer.
The Dutch international has reportedly informed Leipzig of his desire to leave, and favours a move to the Premier League.
Rivals Arsenal and Chelsea are considering a move for the 22-year-old, but face competition from European giants Bayern Munich and Barcelona, who are also interested.
Simons signed for Leipzig permanently in the recent January window, joining from Paris Saint-Germain until 2027.
How did Simons fare last season?
Simons was one of Leipzig’s star players last season, playing a crucial role for both former manager Zsolt Low and the current manager, Ole Werner.
The 22-year-old made 25 appearances in the Bundesliga last season, scoring 10 goals and assisting seven.
Simons continued his form from the Bundesliga into the DFB Pokal. The Dutch international scored once and assisted once in three appearances as Leipzig reached the semi-finals.
In the Champions League, the forward struggled to replicate this form, missing part of the campaign due to an ankle injury. Simons played five times in the UCL, failing to score or assist as Leipzig were knocked out in the group stages.
Overall, Simons was one of Leipzig’s bright sparks last season, playing 33 times, scoring 11 and assisting eight as the Red Bulls finished seventh and failed to qualify for European football.
Would this be a good signing for either side?
Both Arsenal and Chelsea have qualified for the Champions League after having impressive 2024/2025 campaigns.
The Gunners finished second in the league and enjoyed a strong run in the UCL, reaching the semi-finals before losing to the eventual winners, PSG.
The Blues enjoyed their share of success last season, finishing fourth in the league and advancing to the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup finals, where they won both competitions.
Both sides have been busy this window already, but if they want to build on last season, they may need to strengthen in attack, and one player who could help is Xavi Simons.
The 22-year-old has consistently demonstrated his versatility throughout his career, being able to play on both wings and as an attacking midfielder.
This versatility could be a valuable asset for both sides, as they will be participating in several competitions next season. Having players able to operate in different positions allows them to rotate their sides for fitness or tactical reasons.
Simons has also shown he can bring in goal contributions and cause a threat. Last season, the forward averaged 5.86 progressive passes and 2.97 carries into the final third per90.
This could be a good signing for either side, as they would be getting a versatile forward who can contribute with both goals and assists.
It will be interesting to see if either Arsenal or Chelsea will make a move to sign Simons.