Rangers unlikely to sign PSG youngster Xavi Simons amid playing style fears
Rangers have doubts over signing PSG wonderkid Xavi Simons, according to Goal Germany.
Spanish outlet AS reported last week (9 December) that the Bears wanted to sign the 18-year-old, with Barcelona also interested in him.
The report proposed that Rangers had already made informal contact with Simons’s agent Mino Raiola about a January deal.
However, Goal suggest that it is unlikely that the midfielder will move to Glasgow due to fears over his suitability for the Scottish Premiership.
“Compared to the Barca option, the track to Rangers is significantly less hot,” the outlet claimed. “Simons could develop further with his compatriot Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who is the coach there.
“But whether the only 1.68 meter tall technician would be able to cope with the robust style of play of the Scottish league is very questionable.”
Room to develop
Simons is one of the most exciting teenagers in Europe at the moment and last year (2020) he was named as one of the 60 best young talents in world football by the Guardian.
Goal describe the Dutchman as a “mega talent” and suggest that PSG plan to promote him to the first team squad next summer (2022) after he was named on the bench for a Ligue 1 fixture against Saint-Etienne at the end of November.
It would be a huge coup if Rangers were able to sign him, regardless of whether he is an obvious fit for the league or not.
Simons is only 5ft 6in so perhaps physicality would be an issue, but at 18 years old he is still developing and has plenty of time to improve that side of his game.
If Giovanni van Bronckhorst has plans to transform Rangers’ style of play then the midfielder would be a key part of that and is the sort of player who a whole team could be built around.
In other Rangers news, one Bears star is expected to reject a new contract at Ibrox.