Arsenal target reaches salary agreement with Bayern Munich

Arsenal-linked Xavi Simons has agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich, with RB Leipzig also still in the race for his signature.

Fabrice Hawkins reports that Xavi Simons has reached a salary agreement with Bayern Munich for €6m (£5.1m) gross wages, potentially rising to €12m (£10.2m).

Bayern haven’t yet reached an agreement with Simons’ current club PSG, however, with negotiation ongoing. RB Leipzig are also still in the race for the player, who wants a move this summer.

The eventual deal will be a loan or a loan with an option to buy, regardless of the buying club.

Sport Bild (via GGFN) reported last week that Simons was leaning towards staying with Leipzig, but that a loan move with an option or obligation to buy could be too expensive for the German club.

That’s seemingly given Bayern a chance to flex their financial might, and the club have evidently convinced Simons of the move.

Yet until PSG and Bayern agree, the race is still open, with Arsenal having been linked with Simons in recent weeks.

French outlet L’Equipe reported in June that PSG were likely to be hesitant to make a permanent sale this summer, as most of any transfer fee this summer would go to PSV.

Simons’ agreement to return to PSG from PSV included a clause that allowed PSV to collect most of the profits from any sale before January 2025.

L’Equipe claimed that Arsenal were in the race for Simons along with Manchester City, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich, all of whom had contacted PSG.

Bayern are evidently in the driving seat right now, but that could still change.

Simons made 43 appearances for RB Leipzig in 2023/24, scoring 10 goals and assisting 15 from the wings. He split his time between the left and the right-hand side.