Man Utd 'resume contact after agreeing £50m deal' but face Arsenal and Man City challenge

Manchester United are back in contact with Paris Saint-Germain over the potential signing of Xavi Simons but may encounter tough competition from Arsenal and Manchester City, according to reports. The Red Devils were claimed to have agreed a deal for Simons last summer before he joined RB Leipzig on loan.

United are on the hunt for a new right-winger ahead of Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood’s expected exits in the coming months.

And Simons has emerged as a possible alternative to Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, who has been strongly linked with a switch to Old Trafford.

United reportedly identified Olise as a priority target earlier this year in anticipation of Sancho and Greenwood’s departures.

But Chelsea appear to be leading the race for the 22-year-old’s signature and are said to be in talks with Palace over the structure of a £60million deal.

The Red Devils have more pressing matters to address in Erik ten Hag’s squad, like in central defence, where Raphael Varane will leave a void when he becomes a free agent next month.

INEOS also want a central midfielder to support Kobbie Mainoo – amid strong interest in Casemiro from Saudi Arabia – and a striker to serve the same purpose for Rasmus Hojlund ahead of Anthony Martial’s release.

But a right-winger will undoubtedly be on Ten Hag’s radar once Sancho and Greenwood have left the building, and Simons is a reported target.

According to L’Equipe, United have made contact with PSG over a potential deal for the 21-year-old forward this summer.

Arsenal, Bayern Munich and City are also claimed to have made their interest known ahead of a potential four-way battle for his signature.

The Red Devils were reportedly among Simons’ suitors a year ago but ultimately failed to lure him to Old Trafford.

PSG triggered a £5m buy-back clause in the Netherlands international’s PSV Eindhoven contract and looked to sell him for a significant profit.

BILD reported that United had actually agreed a £50m deal with the Parisiens before Simons went cold on the idea of a move to England.

He joined RB Leipzig later in the summer, registering 10 goals and 15 assists in 43 appearances last season to fuel further interest in his services.

L’Equipe add that PSG would prefer to loan Simons out for a second successive season rather than sell him in the coming months.

But with the daunting task of replacing Kylian Mbappe at hand, a Parc des Princes stay certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility.