The Golden Boy nominee Man Utd missed out on this summer

Updated: 13 Oct 2023 16:11 BST
4 min read

Erik ten Hag, Man Utd, 2023/24 — © ProShots

Manchester United have had mixed results at best in the transfer market in recent seasons but they attempted to pull off a major coup this summer by targeting one of the standout wonderkids of world football.

United have struggled this season, having lost six of their last ten games and being plagued by a host of injury concerns as well as off-the-pitch issues with a number of players.

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Erik ten Hag’s sides were amongst the highest spenders in the summer, splashing out more than €200 million, and United attempted to add Paris Saint-Germain sensation Xavi Simons to their recruits only to see an approach rejected.

FACE OFF: Barcelona set to battle with Man City for Simons

L’Equipe claim that Simons, who saw his €6m buy-back clause activated by PSG at the start of the summer, was wanted by RB Leipzig and United but a second transfer of the window was ruled out as the Dutchman’s former club, PSV, would have received the fee instead.

Simons only joined PSV last summer but had an incredible season in the Eredivisie, grabbing 19 goals and eight assists, which prompted PSG to bring back their young talent and eventually loan him to Leipzig for the coming season.

While the details of United’s offer have not been revealed, the bids were thought to be sizeable but PSG are unable to sell Simons until a certain date without any fee going to PSV.

Simons set for extended stint at Leipzig

United certainly will be rueing their fortune at being unable to sign Simons due to the 20-year-old’s quick start to life in Leipzig which has seen him record three goals and four assists in seven Bundesliga games.

Simons has largely featured as a number ten for Leipzig, replacing Dominik Szoboszlai after his move to Liverpool as well as displaying his versatility on both flanks for club and country, leading to his nomination for the Golden Boy award.

The ex-Barcelona academy product penned a four-year contract upon his return to PSG but the decision was made to loan him out due to his similarities in profile to Kylian Mbappe and the now-departed Neymar.

PSG are also believed to be unable to receive any fee for Simons if they attempt to sell him next summer too, leading to talks over extending his loan with Leipzig for another season after his impressive stint there so far.

Xavi Simons has been incredible at RB Leipzig 🤩

3️⃣ Games
2️⃣ Goals
3️⃣ Assists pic.twitter.com/XnaNMX1FOg
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) September 14, 2023

KEEP GOING!: Simons set to extend stay in Leipzig

It means United or any other interested teams may have to wait a while to move for Simons, who himself will be hoping to continue his rise to stardom and potentially become a first team regular for PSG as well as the Netherlands national team.