Manchester United hatch clever FFP transfer plan to solve desperate Marcus Rashford dilemma

Manchester United's summer transfer plans now seem to be in motion three weeks after the 2023/24 campaign ended. The decision to stick with Erik ten Hag means the process has started in shaping the squad.

New players will arrive at Old Trafford in the club's attempt to drastically improve on the eighth-placed finish in the Premier League. However, due to the well-documented limitations in the market due to the league's profit and sustainability rules (PSR), INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe face a summer of smart and careful recruitment.

A bid of £43m for Jarrad Brainthwate has already been made, and turned down, with Everton demanding close to £70m. It isn't yet known whether United will return with an improved offer but it does show that the hierarchy are prepared to spend what is necessary.

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As well as a new central defender, United need another holding midfielder and striker. There are also some doubts over the options out wide with Antony failing to discover any consistency and Jadon Sancho likely to leave.

Again, Ratcliffe and Ten Hag must be clever in their recruitment process and that's why the impressive Xavi Simons is a great option for United to consider. For many reasons.

French outlet L'Equipe have reported this weekend that United have joined Arsenal and Manchester City in the fiercely contested race to sign the Paris Saint-German attacker. Simons left PSG in 2022 to join PSV Eindhoven, where he scored 19 goals and eight assists.

His sensational form resulted in PSG triggering a £5m buyback clause in his contract last summer before he was immediately loaned out to RB Leipzig. His form continued to fly high with an impressive eight goals and 11 assists in the Bundesliga.

Despite impressing in Germany, his place in Luis Enrique's PSG team is unclear. The report from France suggests there are three options for Simons: be integrated back into the PSG team, be sold permanently or leave on loan. He is currently part of the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024 but interest is already accelerating.

Man United have reportedly joined the race to sign the talented forward with Arsenal, Man City and Bayern Munich. Despite holding a market value of €80m (£67.7m - via Transfermarkt), Simons' case presents a brilliant deal for Ratcliffe.

Due to a clause in his contract at PSG, a permanent deal would see a large sum of that fee be paid to PSV. Right now, another loan move is more likely meaning United would avoid having to splash big to sign him.

Where would he fit into United? The first impressive attribute of Simons is his ability to play in two completely different roles. At PSV, he played 19 games (seven goals and six assists) at left wing and 17 games (11 goals and four assists) as the central attacking midfielder.

For RB Leipzig, he played 23 times on the left (five goals and seven assists) and 18 times on the right (five goals and five assists), although Marco Rose's style of play often saw him and Dani Olmo play as playmakers with the two wing-backs providing width.

As the heat map above shows, Simons spent much of his time in the left third of the pitch. From that position, he managed to complete 102 passes into the final third and 187 progressive passes. His influence in Leipzig's attack was key with him recording an impressive 5.97 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.

Where would he fit into the United team? His adaptability means he could help Ten Hag solve two different problems, including the burden currently weighing on Marcus Rashford's shoulders. The forward's undesirable form has led to him being linked with a transfer out of Manchester, but in reality, some quality competition is all he needs.

Simons is also the ideal profile to challenge Bruno Fernandes as Ten Hag's most offensive midfielder. The Portugal international, like Rashford, has often dipped in his performances due to the lack of rest.

The player himself inserted a clause in his PSG contract that means he decides which club to play for if he has options. With a Dutch manager in charge, United may be in a greater position to sign the playmaker this summer - even if it is just temporary for one year.