Munich – Christoph Freund actually did not want to comment on the many speculations about possible new signings, but the sporting director of FC Bayern made an exception for Xavi Simons.
“A very good player. He played a very good European Championship and had a great Bundesliga season with Leipzig last year,” Freund said about the 21-year-old Dutchman on Tuesday afternoon in the Säbener Strasse: “I think he’s going to have a very good time.” He’s going to have a good career at the highest level. He brings everything with him, including his mentality and character.”
Freund and Eberl have a lot of appreciation for European Championship star Xavi Simons
High praise, almost a Freund-like enthusiasm – does the Bayern maker know more about Simons? In any case, Munich’s interest in the attacking star has been documented, but negotiations have not been considered advanced recently.
Simons, last season RB Leipzig was loaned out (ten goals and 15 assists in 43 competitive games), owns Paris Saint Germain Still a contract until 2027. But PSG does not necessarily plan to loan him out; Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl brought Simons to Leipzig in 2023 and, like Freund, he values the player enormously. And Simons can also easily imagine a move to Bayern. His advantage: he can be deployed in almost all attacking positions – as an eighth, tenth, right and left winger. Exciting!
Friend on Bayern transfers: ‘We’ll see what the coming weeks bring’
But the Munich natives have other options. One of them: Desiré Doué, the 19-year-old Frenchman from Stade Rennes. According to Sky, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany has already spoken to the youngster on the phone and says he would really like to sign Doué. But: Rennes is asking for a transfer fee of 60 million euros – too much. How far will Bayern go for Doué, who is also interested in PSG?
“The transfers we have been able to realize so far have been absolute dream transfers,” said Freund about new signing Hiroki Ito (VfB Stuttgart), João Palhinha (FC Fulham) and Michael Olise (Crystal Palace): “We’ll see what the next few weeks bring.”
One thing is clear: Olise will not be the only new impulse in attack. In addition to Simons and Doué, there is now also that of Spain European champion Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig) is a candidate. The 26-year-old would cost more than 50 million euros. But Bavaria would have to do that first Kingsley Coman or Serge Gnabry to sell.