Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City eye Xavi Simons as £45m Joshua Zirkzee claim made

Manchester United supporters have been enjoying the European Championships over the past few days but those in charge at Old Trafford remain hard at work going into the summer. The transfer window opened on Friday and after a disappointing eighth-placed Premier League finish, new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be keen to invest in a bid for major improvement.

Reinforcements are being eyed across the board but the three central areas - centre-back, midfield and striker - are thought to be the main priority, although major signings will likely rely on money first being raised through player sales. It’s set to be another busy summer at Old Trafford and ManchesterWorld has rounded up some of the latest headlines surrounding the club.

Simons race

United are one of four teams thought to be interested in Paris Saint-Germain winger Xavi Simons. French outlet L’Equipe reports that Erik ten Hag’s side could face competition from Arsenal, Manchester City and German giants Bayern Munich if they are to make an offer for the Dutchman.

Simons will return to PSG this summer after spending last season on loan at RB Leipzig, where he registered an impressive eight goals and 11 assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances. The 21-year-old has now been a key player at Leipzig and PSV Eindhoven over the past 24 months and has attracted plenty of interest during that time.

Reports from Germany last summer suggested United actually had a £50m bid for Simons accepted, only for the winger to opt against the move. They look to have returned, with the report claiming contact has been made with PSG over the possibility of a move, with Simons eyeing a move away from Ligue 1.

Zirkzee latest

United may have to fork out up to £45m for summer target Joshua Zirkzee, despite his release clause being around £33m. GiveMeSport reports that huge agent fees could present a stumbling block for any of the several potential suitors this summer.

Zirkzee is currently in talks over a move to AC Milan, following an excellent season at Bologna in which he bagged 11 goals in 34 appearances. But the two sides are yet to reach an agreement with a key issue thought to be that agent Kia Joorabchian is demanding a further £12m of add-ons included in the deal.

That delay could allow financially superior rivals, such as those in the Premier League like United and Arsenal, to swoop in but the intricacies of any deal will be the same. Ten Hag is an admirer of Zirkzee and is keen to sign a striker this summer, with support needed for Rasmus Hojlund following Anthony Martial’s exit as a free agent.