Ian Wright admits he has been a ‘little bit disappointed’ with Arsenal target and Netherlands star Xavi Simons at Euro 2024.
Simons came into the tournament as one of the players to watch off the back of two very impressive seasons on loan at PSV and RB Leipizig.
In the 2023/24 campaign he recorded 10 goals and 15 assists in 43 appearances for the Bundesliga side, easily earning him a call up to Ronald Koeman’s Dutch squad.
The attacking midfielder will return to PSG once the Netherlands’ Euros campaign finishes but there is a great deal of uncertainty around his future, with reports touting him to leave Paris this summer.
Arsenal have a long standing interest in the 21-year-old who is valued at around £51million, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Bayern Munich also keen on acquiring his services.
Simons has been a key player for the Netherlands, who will play England in the semi-finals on Wednesday night, appearing in all five games so far and starting four of them.
He has registered three assists, the joint most of the tournament alongside Spain’s 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal.
But his performances haven’t been totally convincing, with Gunners legend Wright admitting he wasn’t too impressed with what he saw of the player in the Dutch’s 2-1 win over Turkey in the quarter-finals.
‘A player I was a little bit disappointed with from the Netherlands, Xavi Simons. I was expecting a little bit more in respects of him on the ball,’ the former England striker said on Wrighty’s House.
‘I know they took Steven Bergwijn off in the first half. You think to yourself, “I could see that”, but if they took Xavi Simons off I would have thought, “yeah, I could see that as well”.
‘Because even in the second half, not enough. I didn’t see nowhere near enough of this guy with what I have heard and seen from the Bundesliga.
‘I am looking for a little bit more dynamism off this guy. I am not seeing it.’
It remains to be seen whether or not Arsenal act on their interest in Simons, but for now they’re working on finalising the transfer for a different Euro 2024 star: Riccardo Calafiori.
Mikel Arteta’s side have already agreed personal terms with the Italian defender and are hoping to conclude negotiations with Bologna this week over a £40m deal.
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