‘It’s Clear’ – Liverpool Handed Reality Check Over Summer Transfer Target
The Reds may seek to strengthen their midfield options during the summer following their Premier League title triumph, with one potential signing possibly arriving at Anfield after a difficult period in his current spell.
Liverpool’s target, Xavi Simons, is currently enduring a challenging time at RB Leipzig, where he has reportedly been informed he cannot ‘fulfil’ a significant role within the team. The Dutch midfielder is being considered as a summer reinforcement by the newly-crowned Premier League champions.
Reports suggest Liverpool are preparing a £51 million offer for the former Paris Saint-Germain prospect ahead of the transfer window. This is not the first instance of Simons being linked with a move to the Premier League, as both Manchester United and Manchester City have previously shown interest.
However, any club hoping to secure his services may now face a new concern. Simons, aged 22, was recently given the captain’s armband during Leipzig’s Bundesliga fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Despite the show of confidence, he struggled during the match, which ended in a heavy 4-0 loss. Simons was substituted after 76 minutes, and interim coach Zsolt Löw later implied that the leadership responsibility may have been too much for him.
“We talked about why he would get the captain’s armband and what we expect from him before the Frankfurt game,” Löw said before the weekend. “It’s clear that he hasn’t been able to fulfil that role.
“He tried, but there’s still room for improvement. I’m happy with the way he handled a constructive conversation. We both would have liked things to have gone differently. I won’t be making [the captaincy decision for the forthcoming match] on my own.”
To his credit, Simons bounced back impressively in his next appearance, providing two assists during a 3-3 draw against Bayern Munich. That display brought his overall tally to ten goals and eight assists across all competitions.
He has a little over two years left on his current contract, having only signed a permanent deal earlier this year following his initial loan move in 2023.
Asked about his future earlier this season, he said: “I’m still a young player, I have many dreams and the club knows that. But right now, the most important thing for me is to play well in the upcoming games.” He added: “Then we have the international matches, and after that we’ll sit down and see what happens.”
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp could have significant influence over Simons’ next move, as he now serves as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull.
Simons and Leipzig are set to return to the pitch this Saturday when they face Werder Bremen in their second-to-last Bundesliga fixture. The team currently trails the Champions League spots by two points.
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