According to reports, Mikel Arteta’s ‘new wish’ is for Arsenal to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Xavi Simons, who has also been linked with Liverpool.

The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the best young talents in Europe this season. He left PSG to join PSV on a permanent deal last summer and he has been loving life in the Eredivisie.

Simons has grabbed 22 goals and 12 assists in his 48 appearances across all competitions and his form has seemingly caught the eye of clubs around Europe.

Last October, it was reported that Arsenal and Liverpool are preparing to ‘fight’ for Simons as Jurgen Klopp sees him as the ‘perfect signing’.

And months later, Arsenal remain in the race for Simons as it was suggested earlier this week that the London outfit are his ‘most likely destination’.

The report from Dutch outlet Voetbal International pointed out that Simons is ‘open’ to joining another Champions League side and Arsenal are leading the race to sign him.

Now a report from Fichajes claims Simons ‘is Arteta’s new wish’ for Arsenal. An update from the same outlet later stated that PSV are ‘not willing to let him go easily and have set an asking price of around €50m’.

Simons is under contract until 2027 and PSG could usurp Arsenal in the fight for him as the Ligue 1 giants have the option to re-sign him for just €12m.

It remains to be seen whether PSG will activate this clause to bring Simons back but the report from Fichajes suggests the attacker is ‘expected’ to leave PSV in the coming months.

Arsenal fell short in the race for the Premier League title in 2022/23 and Arteta is expected to be given funds to improve his squad ahead of their return to the Champions League.

A new centre-midfielder or two are understood to be a priority for the head coach and the Gunners are consistently being linked with Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.

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The Premier League side are facing competition from Bayern Munich for Rice and German journalist Christian Falk is reporting that a ‘meeting’ has already taken place between Thomas Tuchel and the midfielder.

‘The club’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, once wanted to bring Declan Rice to Chelsea. Now he’s fighting for him again,’ Falk wrote for Caught Offside.

‘There was already a meeting in London between Tuchel, Rice and Rice’s father in mid-May. Bayern know that Arsenal want to invest a lot of money to get the player from West Ham.

‘In addition to money, FC Bayern can also offer the prospect of titles. Hasan Salihamidzic was also present during the conversation. Now Tuchel is continuing the talks, with both the coach and player staying in touch by phone.

‘Nobody in Munich knows anything about the rumour that Rice would rather stay in the Premier League and has already ruled out FC Bayern as a destination – they don’t believe that it is true.’

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The article Arsenal: ‘Arteta’s wish’ is to sign €50m ex-PSG man and player gives clear stance on summer transfer appeared first on Football365.com.