Manchester City scouts unveils one player who can be the perfect alternative for Florian Wirtz
With club legend Kevin De Bruyne publicly confirming his intention to leave Manchester City at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Pep Guardiola faces a critical challenge—how to replace the creativity, vision, and experience that the Belgian midfielder has brought to the Etihad for nearly a decade.
Even before De Bruyne’s announcement, City were already in the market for a fresh injection of midfield dynamism. The team has shown signs of needing a new playmaker who can operate between the lines and control the tempo of games—especially with De Bruyne aging and struggling with injuries over the past two seasons. The clear frontrunner to take on that creative mantle has long been Florian Wirtz, the prodigious German talent lighting up the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen.
Wirtz, just 21 years old, has emerged as one of the hottest prospects in European football, and Guardiola is believed to be a huge admirer of his ability to play through tight spaces, dictate play, and contribute goals. But landing Wirtz will be far from straightforward. Leverkusen are reluctant to sell, and with the player also attracting interest from other top clubs, the race for his signature is wide open.
In the event that Wirtz slips through City’s grasp this summer, there is one standout alternative who is already catching the eye of the City scouting department: Xavi Simons, the Dutch international currently on loan at RB Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain.
Simons has long been on City’s radar, and his dazzling performance during RB Leipzig’s 3-2 victory over Wolfsburg last weekend only strengthened his case. The 21-year-old was the star of the show, netting a brilliant brace and showcasing exactly the kind of intelligence, movement, and technical quality that Guardiola prizes in his attacking midfielders.
It wasn’t just his goals—both of which were taken with class and composure—that turned heads. Simons’ ability to find space in tight areas, drop into dangerous pockets between the lines, and seamlessly link play with his teammates was a masterclass in modern midfield play. He was relentless in his pressing, confident in possession, and tactically sharp throughout—a performance that echoed many of the traits Guardiola demands from his players.
According to the Daily Mail, Manchester City have been monitoring Simons closely all season and view him as a primary alternative should their pursuit of Wirtz falter. City are not alone in their admiration—Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Manchester United have also registered interest in the Dutchman, but Guardiola’s admiration for technically refined, positionally astute midfielders could give City an edge.
What makes Simons even more appealing is his footballing education. A product of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Simons was trained in positional play from a young age—the same foundational philosophy that Guardiola uses to build his teams. After leaving Barcelona, Simons honed his craft further at PSG before truly blossoming in the Bundesliga, where his time at Leipzig has turned him into a complete, modern midfielder.
For City, Simons represents not just a short-term solution to De Bruyne’s departure, but a long-term investment in the future. He has the tools to slot seamlessly into Guardiola’s system, playing either as a number 10, an advanced number 8, or even as a wide playmaker if needed. His tactical flexibility, youth, and elite-level experience make him an ideal candidate to carry City’s creative burden into the next era.
All signs currently point to City going all-in on Florian Wirtz, and they are expected to battle fiercely for his signature this summer. But should Wirtz opt to stay in Germany or choose another destination, Xavi Simons should be at the very top of Manchester City’s list. His recent performances only underline why he’s so highly valued across Europe and why he could be the next midfield maestro to light up the Etihad under Pep Guardiola.
As City prepare for a pivotal summer window and a changing of the guard in midfield, Simons offers not just hope—but real, tangible quality. And if Guardiola does decide to bring him in, fans can be sure that the creative future of the team will be in good hands.
