'Ready for Arsenal' - PSV 'modern playmaker' Xavi Simons shows shades of Christian Eriksen

With Arsenal reportedly leading the race for Xavi Simons, Dutch Eurosport expert Kevin Van Nunen compared the youngster to some of the best talent to come via the Netherlands. Simons started his youth footballing career with CD Thader, but switched to Barcelona before moving on again to Paris Saint-Germain.

Ad He made a handful of appearances for PSG before being sold to PSV, and the French club have inserted a €12 million buyback clause for the 20-year-old. TransfersBayern ignite Rice race with £95m offer, Kane to Man Utd blocked — Paper Round29/05/2023 AT 22:04 Arsenal are said to be keen on the player as they look to build upon their second-place Premier League finish in the summer transfer window, and it is up to Simons, and not just his former club, whether he moves back to Paris.

That means that PSV could demand a much higher transfer fee, perhaps similar to the £50 million that Liverpool spent to bring in Cody Gakpo, and there is talk they wish to retain him for at least another season. Van Nunen used Gakpo as one example to compare him too, but also suggested former Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen, now at Liverpool’s rivals Manchester United.

'This is why they bought me' — Haaland determined to win treble with Man City Inter Miami sack Neville as Beckham makes 'toughest decision' PGMOL 'appalled' after Roma fans abuse referee Taylor in Budapest airport Simons is, “the typical modern playmaker, he’s very creative and able to give an assist as well as making goals,” he told Eurosport UK. “I named Christian Eriksen as a comparison for a reason, especially as Simons is at a similar point in his career as when Eriksen had his breakthrough at Ajax.