Arsenal next transfer move could be for 'exceptional' PSG 20-year-old

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have warned Gunners fans not to expect any marquee signings arriving at the Emirates Stadium this month but the club could still make moves to bring in rising stars, including Paris Saint-Germain wonderkid Xavi Simons.

The 20-year-old is currently on loan at RB Leipzig and is a product of the prestigious Barcelona La Masia academy. Simons made his professional debut with PSG but was sold to PSV Eindhoven in 2022, before the French giants triggered a buy-back clause last summer to bring the midfielder back to the French capital.

Simons dazzled in the Eredivisie last season with 19 goals and eight assists, making his £5 million buy-back fee little consideration for PSG. This term, the rising star has four goals and seven assists in his opening 17 appearances for Leipzig with the German side keen to extend the talent's loan deal - manager Marco Rose has hailed him "exceptional in his all-round game".

However, German outlet Sport Bild report that PSG are yet undecided on the Netherlands international's immediate future, which may allow Arsenal to steal in. The Gunners are one of the clubs named to be monitoring the player, along with Inter Milan and Barcelona, although no concrete approach has been made.

Arsenal's number one priority is adding strength in depth to their forward options with a marksman with the calibre of Ivan Toney, Victor Osimhen or Alexander Isak to turn title chases into a trophy. Simons does have the goals to contribute to the team and is already competing at a top level, so could provide a cheaper option.

Asked whether Arsenal could end the window without any new signings, Arteta said: "That’s a possibility. We’re open for the transfer market, but the emphasis is of making the most of the players we have. Speaking to the media last week, Mikel Arteta conceded that it may not be possible for the Gunners to add to their squad before the January transfer deadline."