Xavi Simons dreaming of Barcelona return but Man Utd still in race to sign him as Red Devils line up summer bid for €75m RB Leipzig star

Simons has 10 goals and six assists in 29 appearances across all competitions for Leipzig this season. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with several of Europe’s top clubs monitoring his progress ahead of the summer transfer window, including the likes of Barcelona and United. Any club wanting to sign him, though, may have to match Leipzig's €75m (£64m/$86m).

Following RB Leipzig's recent 1-1 draw with Holstein Kiel, Simons opened up to Sky Sport about what lies ahead for him, suggesting that his journey could soon take a new turn. The 20-year-old was candid but cautious, keeping the door open to different paths.

"I'm still a young player, I have many dreams, and the club knows that," he said. "But right now, the most important thing for me is to play well in the upcoming matches. Then we have the international matches, and after that we'll sit back and see what happens."

However, according to Mundo Deportivo, Simons' heart appears to still beat for the club where he developed as a youth player. Having spent nearly a decade in La Masia - Barcelona's famed academy - between 2010 and 2019, the Dutch international has never hidden his affection for the Blaugrana. Although a return to Barcelona is Simons’ preferred outcome, such a transfer would be difficult given the financial constraints of the Catalan side. Instead, Fabrizio Romano stated that a switch to the Premier League is more plausible, with United keen to bring him to Old Trafford.

Although Simons has become one of United’s top midfield targets for the upcoming transfer window, their pursuit of the Dutch star may ultimately depend on whether they can secure a place in next season’s Champions League. Should they succeed, it could unlock as much as £100 million in revenue - funds that could be vital in landing the Dutch player.