Jurgen Klopp was determined to sign Xavi Simons for Liverpool during his time at Anfield and will now be vital to keeping him at RB Leipzig instead.
That’s according to SportBILD, who cover Klopp’s new role at Red Bull and how that may now see him focused on a former target for Liverpool.
The newspaper reports that Simons, who is currently on loan at RB Leipzig from Paris Saint Germain after extending his time at the German club following a similar loan last year.
He is one of the rising stars of European football and Leipzig have long wanted to keep him on a permanent basis because of that.
Whether they can will likely depend on the work that Klopp, now Global Sports Director for Red Bull, can do on the player in the coming months.
He knows Simons well as, according to SportBILD, he was determined to sign him for Liverpool during his tenure there.
He had the Dutch star in his sights but because PSG would only sanction a loan deal, he was pushed further down the wish list. Eventually he went on loan to Leipzig in 2023 without a purchase option. That loan was extended in the summer.
Internally Leipzig have faint hopes they can keep him, although PSG’s demands for €80m or more will move tricky to meet.
Convincing the player may be an easier task and Klopp will be key to that, presumably determined to win this one after missing out at Liverpool.
