Bayern Munich have enquired about signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.
The 22-year-old Netherlands international has told Leipzig that he wishes to leave the club this summer, despite having joined permanently from Paris Saint-Germain for €50million in January 2025.
Simons scored 10 goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances last season, despite Leipzig recording a seventh-place league finish and failing to qualify for European football next season.
There are yet to be any negotiations between Bayern and Leipzig, but the player has expressed his belief that he is ready to take the next step in his career, having spent two seasons at Red Bull Arena, initially on loan deals.
While not a direct response to the injury suffered by Jamal Musiala’s against PSG at the Club World Cup, which is expected to keep him out for at least four months, the club are pursuing attacking reinforcements.
Bayern missed out on primary target Florian Wirtz, who chose to move to Liverpool, and also on Spain international winger Nico Williams, who opted to renew his contract with Athletic Club.
Interest in Liverpool’s Luis Diaz has been met with the Premier League club’s insistence that the Colombia international is not for sale at any price.
Simons, who can play as an attacking midfielder or out-wide, could theoretically cover both positions for Bayern, potentially solving two problems.
In addition, with Leroy Sane having left the club to join Galatasaray on a free transfer, Mathys Tel being sold to Tottenham earlier in the summer, and Serge Gnabry now a year away from the end of his contract, he would add depth to a department which suddenly looks shallow ahead of the new season.
A former Barcelona youth player, Simons joined PSG in 2019 and progressed through the club’s youth academy. He went on to make 11 first-team appearances for the French side.
He joined PSV for the 2022-23 season before returning to PSG after the French side triggered their buy-back clause. He then joined Leipzig on loan in the summer of 2023.
The loan move was extended in the summer of 2024 before the German club exercised a pre-agreed option to sign him permanently for an initial €50million (£41.8m; $52m) in January 2025.
In his two seasons in Germany, Simons has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young talents, scoring 21 goals and providing 23 assists in 76 games. He helped his side win the German Super Cup in the summer of 2023 with a 3-0 win over Bayern Munich.
Last season injuries limited Simons to just 33 appearances in all competitions, but the versatile midfielder still notched 11 goals and eight assists.
(Photo: RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images)