The summer always brings excitement to North London. Arsenal fans watch every rumour with burning eyes, imagining how a new signing could change the face of the team for next season. For some time now, the board have been looking to go one step further and break that barrier that has left them close to, but not touching, the top.

This transfer window feels different. The club not only want to reinforce the obvious. Mikel Arteta needs freshness, ingenuity and someone capable of altering the dynamics of tight games. That’s why every name that comes up sparks debates and dreams alike.

Arsenal could sign quality Dutch midfielder who is also a target of Tottenham Hotspur

Now comes one that few saw coming. According to TBR Football, Ben Jacobs revealed on Bhavss14 that Xavi Simons could be the surprise of the summer for Arsenal. The journalist explained that despite the complexity of his situation with RB Leipzig, there is an open door for the Dutchman.

Tottenham have shown interest, but the Gunners could go ahead. The final price would be in the region of £70m, although the agreement between clubs could vary. Jacobs warned not to get his hopes up too high, but also urged people to keep an eye on him. Sometimes the most unexpected signings end up making the difference.

Opinion:

I’m interested to see if Arsenal really go for Xavi Simons. I think Arteta needs a creative midfielder to break lines and activate the strikers in tight spaces. Simons has a spark, is daring and can adapt to various schemes. I am not talking about a static playmaker. The Dutchman understands when to float between the lines and when to come in from the second line.

That could be of great benefit to players like Martinelli or Saka, who need a partner between the lines. However, the deal with Leipzig is a knot. The German club paid a high figure that included variables. If he leaves early, clauses could be triggered that make the move more expensive. Is it worth taking that financial risk? It depends on the conviction of Arteta and Berta. If they see Simons as a key player, it might be worth the outlay.

The Premier League demands a long and versatile squad. Arsenal suffered from a creative stalemate at the back last season. Simons could alleviate that over-reliance on Odegaard. I envisage games where the two of them are paired together. It would be a delightful puzzle for opposing defences. It would also put internal pressure on players to raise their game or look for a way out, and we can’t ignore the Tottenham factor.

If Arsenal snatch Simons away from them, Spurs might regret it. They’ve had their feelers out for him. They know he would fit in well with their style. Losing him to their arch rivals would hurt. Besides, the player wants Premier League, Jacobs said so. His enthusiasm for England is key.

In my opinion, if Arsenal really want to compete for the title in 2025/26, they need this kind of shake-up. Signing Simons would send a clear message: they want fantasy, runaway and fearlessness in midfield. It’s a risky gamble, yes, but not moving forward is sometimes more costly. Great teams take calculated risks. If they let it go, he could end up wearing another shirt at the Emirates, and that would hurt more than the price being discussed today.