Barcelona thwarted! PSG issue hands-off warning to Catalan giants over summer deal for Xavi Simons

Barcelona's interest in the 21-year-old midfielder is understandable given his stellar performances at Leipzig and his history with La Masia. However, PSG have no intention of loaning out Simons, especially to Barcelona, according to Sport.

However, Simons himself is reportedly keen on the idea of moving to Barcelona and is ready to trigger a "contractual commitment" that gives him the autonomy to choose his preferred club if sent out on loan next season. However, PSG's stance remains unchanged and instead, they are looking to cash in on Simons’ market value - which is estimated to be around €80 million (£69m/$87m). Nonetheless, the Parisians are willing to negotiate for a figure closer to €60 million (£51m/$65m) plus incentives as they want to seal the deal before the commencement of the Euro Cup in mid-June.

RB Leipzig, where Simons has been on loan, appears to be the frontrunner in these negotiations due to their strong institutional relations with PSG. The club is making it clear that Simons would be a franchise player and an undisputed starter, an opportunity that could be very appealing to the young talent. Moreover, Leipzig’s continued participation in the Champions League next season could be a decisive factor in convincing Simons to stay.

Despite the challenges, Barcelona have not given up on the possibility of bringing Simons back. The club is aware that a permanent deal might be out of their financial reach, but are exploring options to carve out a loan move. But, given PSG's firm stance, only a strong push from Simons himself to join the Catalan club could potentially alter the current situation. Other clubs, including Arsenal and Bayern Munich, have also shown interest in Simons, although no formal offers have been made yet.