Liverpool is looking to make more moves with the acquisition of Alexis MacAllister, and a player wanted by Arsenal could suit the bill for Jürgen Klopp
Despite the loss of Roberto Firmino, Liverpool does not have an immediate and pressing need for another attacker, given to Cody Gakpo’s January arrival from PSV.
But, with another PSV product presumably accessible, there should be ample incentive to revise those plans if a chance to sign a quality young player arises.
According to Football.London, Simons has booked a meeting with PSV to discuss his future, with Arsenal one of the clubs interested in signing him for what would have to be a club-record fee for the Dutch side.
PSG has a buy-back clause but no manager at the moment, so depending on who arrives and what is decided, there could be an opportunity to steal Simons — a forward who can also play as an attacking midfielder.
“I don’t know yet,” Simons, who has 22 goals and 12 assists this season, said this week when questioned about his future while on international duty with the Netherlands.
“I’ve joined the Dutch national team; I’ll be here for two weeks and then we’ll see what happens.” Soon, we shall decide what is best for me in collaboration with my family.”
Simons was previously signed by Paris Saint-Germain but decided to move to the Eredivisie in order to play regular first-team games. Simons has been in excellent form for Liverpool since they bought Cody Gakpo from the Dutch club. Simons was impressive both before and after Gakpo arrived.
Of course, statistics from outside Europe’s most illustrious leagues must be viewed with caution, but with Simons being 19 years old for the majority of this season — and already a Netherlands international — there is promise when comparing his output to that of Chelsea’s Mason Mount during his time at Vitesse Arnhem.
Mount, who is admired by Liverpool, scored 14 goals and assisted nine times in 32 Eredivisie games after joining the club as an 18-year-old. Simons is a little older, but he’s already outdone himself.
Simons has also demonstrated excellent versatility this season, with the ability to play in any position within Liverpool’s front three. And, like Harvey Elliott, he is capable of playing in central midfield.
With the Reds striving to improve in those areas, Klopp may employ him in this role the most. In the new system, he may be a more advanced number eight or fill in on the offensive line as needed.
Transfermarkt values him at $32 million (£26 million/€30 million), so it would cost more to get him, but it would be worthwhile. PSV’s current record selling is Gakpo for $46 million (£37 million/€43 million), and a similar amount would be reasonable and within Liverpool’s range.
Simons just acknowledged to Marca that Paris Saint-Germain has the option to buy him back in the summer, however the final decision is his. PSG is an enticing option for any player, but with countrymen Virgil van Dijk and Gakpo also on Merseyside, Anfield would be impossible to pass up.
And, with evidence that Gakpo is settling in as a regular in the red of Liverpool, Klopp won’t need him.
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