Sir Alex Ferguson managed to sign some fantastic players during his Manchester United managerial stint. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Nemanja Vidic stand out for their long-term efforts, earning numerous awards.
However, one of his finest signings, Ruud van Nistelrooy, only won three major honors at the club despite having a devastating impact in front of goal.
The Dutchman scored 150 goals in just 219 appearances over five seasons, demonstrating his ruthlessness in front of goal, and it’s fair to say his £19 million move from PSV Eindhoven was a huge success.
And Erik ten Hag may emulate Van Nistelrooy, especially given United’s interest in Xavi Simons, a young Dutch prospect now playing for PSV.
Could Xavi Simons join Manchester United?
According to Voetbal Primeur (via Sport Witness), Manchester United are interested in signing the teenager, along with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Borussia Dortmund. However, Paris Saint-Germain has a €6 million (£5.1 million) buy-back clause that they might trigger in July.
No money was stated in relation to a move to any other teams, but with Football Transfers valuing him at €34.5m (£30m), it’s possible that the Eredivisie side would be seeking to demand at least that amount, given the prodigy’s fantastic season.
Despite his youth, Simons was undoubtedly the standout for PSV last season, managing to produce 34 goal contributions (22 goals and 12 assists) throughout 48 appearances, adding some silverware as they won the Dutch Cup.
Ten Hag may make good use of the former PSG sensation, who can play on either wing or in an attacking-midfield slot, which is his favorite position.
His creative abilities would be a dream come true for United, as he created 11 big chances and made 1.7 key passes per game last season, with only Bruno Fernandes displaying better figures for United across both metrics in the Premier League during 2022/23, clearly indicating Simons could fit into their side quite well.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig previously described the 20-year-old as “magic,” and with United’s previous success in signing players from PSV, including the aforementioned Van Nistelrooy and Park Ji-sung, they should be ready to raid the Dutch side once again this summer for a player who has the potential to become a world-class talent.
