Xavi Simons has become one of those name-brand footballers whose popularity has gone through the roof, even if your average fan in the UK would have trouble identifying whether he is left or right footed.
The Dutchman has nearly seven million followers on Instagram, another 1.7m on TikTok and 202,000 on X, despite playing for RB Leipzig – a respectable club but not one which mixes with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Juventus or Bayern Munich on the global stage
Simons, however, knows all about life at the biggest clubs in Europe as he was on Barcelona’s books as a boy before switching to Paris Saint-Germain and then moving to PSV Eindhoven on loan.
After helping them win the Eredivisie title with 19 goals in 34 games, Xavi then headed to Leipzig for two seasons, making the move permanent at the start of the year.
He was soon scoring more goals for fun with both his stronger right foot as well as the satisfactory left leg (there you go, that answers that question) but has got itchy feet once again.
This time he is apparently considering a move to the Premier League where he has no shortage of suitors with reigning champions Liverpool showing interest in the 22-year-old attacker.
He is, however, a whopping 33/1 with bet365 to be playing at Anfield when the transfer window closes with Newcastle rated as the favourites to sign him, which is 3/1 with Unibet and BetMGM.
It’s 5/1 with those firms Xavi stays in the Bundesliga by moving to title holders Bayern Munich and 9/4 with bet365 he sticks with RB Leipzig but they reportedly need money to fund a move for England’s Under-21 European Championship winner Harvey Elliott from Liverpool.
That could open the door for Tottenham, who appear to be losing ground to neighbours Arsenal in the chase to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace.
Xavi is very much on their cards if they cannot land the rising England star and he is both younger and cheaper in terms of the transfer fee and the wages which will have to be agreed in any deal.
Netherlands international Simons is 5/1 with Bet Victor, Unibet and BetMGM to join Spurs, who can offer Champions League football next season after their Europa League triumph in Bilbao.
Wimbledon odds: Draper too sharp for veteran Cilic
Jack Draper got a break from the sweltering SW19 sun as his match against Sebastian Baez finished early when his opponent was forced to retire.
Draper led 6-2, 6-2, 2-1 having served ten aces and his astonishing power, with the ball booming off his racket and crossing the net at even faster rates in the current heat, will be too much for old warrior Marin Cilic in round two.
The Croatian is a formerUS Open champion and world No.3 but that rankings peak was way back at the start of 2018 – six months after he was beaten in straight sets by Roger Federer in a one-sided Centre Court finale.
Now 36, Cilic beat Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 when smashing 16 aces of his own in the first round so this will be an intriguing battle but one Draper can win by three sets to one at 13/5 with BoyleSports.
Golf odds
Ben Griffin narrowly failed to cash for us last week when he was tied 13th at the Rocket Classic in Detroit but can make amends at this week’s John Deere Classic.
Eighth in the United States’ Ryder Cup rankings, he can add more points to help him seal a top-six and an automatic place in the side to face Europe at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, in September by winning the leaping deer trophy.
Griffin loves the Illinois course and hit a nine-under final round to claim a share of fifth place last year and is worth another each-way flutter at 12/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral.
No comments:
Post a Comment