Man Utd ace Mason Mount put on notice as Xavi Simons transfer demanded

Manchester United hero Louis Saha has told his former employers to snap up Xavi Simons from Paris Saint-Germain after Mason Mount failed to get the Red Devils attack firing following his big-money move from Chelsea last summer. Simons impressed for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 after spending last season on loan with RB Leipzig.

Simons has struggled to kick-start his career in France after joining PSG from Barcelona as a teenager five years ago.

But the 21-year-old finally looks ready to succeed at the top of the game after bagging 10 goals and 15 assists in 43 appearances for Leipzig during the 2023/24 campaign.

And Saha told Betfred: “What’s very interesting about this, is that a player with his profile is something we needed at Manchester United last season. We thought Mason Mount was going to provide that, but he didn’t.

“We needed a player that was going to find ways to disrupt defences and this is what Simons is doing currently.

“He’s brilliant at it and he showed that with the Netherlands. He gets into those spaces which are very difficult to mark and he’s always on the move as well.”

United recorded their worst-ever Premier League finish last season as they ended the campaign in eighth position after winning just 18 matches, with Mount starting just five top-flight matches after being hampered by a calf injury.

They struggled in front of goal and found the back of the net in the top-flight on just 57 occasions, one more than relegation-threatened Brentford managed.

And Saha added: “In midfield we have a lot of exciting players, but I don’t believe that we have players that are able to break the lines. We need more unpredictability because we’re an attacking side and we need to gain those advantages when we can.

“So we definitely need players like this (Simons) who are able to produce that unpredictability, provide legs, play in those pockets and always be courageous on the ball. He doesn’t shy away and he’s always a threat. I really like that about him.”

United could face a battle with Bayern Munich and Leipzig for Simons’ signature, with the player already reportedly telling PSG that he wants to secure another loan deal away from the club.

The Red Devils have already been active in the transfer market this summer after landing centre-back Leny Yoro from Lille and striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna as they continue their preparations for the new campaign. United will get the Premier League season underway on Friday, August 16 when they host Fulham in the top-flight curtain-raiser.