Arsenal offered chance to beat Barcelona to £60m transfer after two year scouting mission

Arsenal have been keeping tabs on Netherlands attacking playmaker Xavi Simons for some time. The 20-year-old is one of Europe's most exciting players and nearly moved to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

Simons was in high-demand after enjoying a sensational first season in senior football with 22 goals and a further 12 assists in 48 games for PSV Eindhoven. The Gunners were one of many clubs offered the chance to sign him before the 2023/24 season but Paris Saint-Germain struck gold after activating their smart €6million (£5.1m) buyback clause.

He was immediately loaned out to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig on loan for the season and he's continued to make a good impression. In 26 games, the Dutch international has scored six goals and assisted another nine.

Simons' move to PSG had all but ended Arsenal's pursuit of the attacker but it now seems as though Mikel Arteta is keen on completing his two-year scouting mission next summer. According to German publication BILD, Arsenal are one of three 'top clubs' monitoring his situation at Paris ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Leipzig are said to be keen on extending Simons' loan stay but PSG are yet to make a decision on Simons' whereabouts. The publication reports that Barcelona and Inter Milan join the Gunners in being 'interested' in Simons, with Bayern Munich also entering the scene.

Simons' profile is set to be in high-demand once again in the summer when he takes on Euro 2024 with the Netherlands national team. For Arsenal, adding a player of his calibre would see them finally land their man.

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