Xavi Simons signs – Which midfielder Frank could axe at Tottenham
Thomas Frank is keen to address the lack of creativity exposed at Tottenham last season.
Captain Son Heung-min was the only Spurs player in the Premier League’s top 20 for assists last season, and he looks increasingly likely to leave North London this summer.
The Lilywhites went into the UEFA Europa League final without a recognised, fit attacking midfielder, leaving right-back Pedro Porro as arguably the team’s most naturally creative player on the day.
This is a key issue for Spurs to address this summer, with the Lilywhites reportedly targeting an ambitious move for Xavi Simons, which could have ramifications for one of Tottenham’s current players.
Frank to axe James Maddison for Simons
Supporters are excited by the prospect of Simons joining Tottenham this summer in what would be considered a huge coup for the North London side, even if they are doubtful of it materialising.
One player who would not be quite as welcoming of the transfer is James Maddison, who could see his playing time axed following the Dutchman’s arrival.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
| James Maddison | 45 | 12 | 11 | 2,718′ |
| Xavi Simons | 33 | 11 | 8 | 2,763′ |
The pair had similar outputs last season in terms of goal contributions, though Simons competed in a higher tier of European football.
The Paris Saint-Germain academy product also has age on his side, being six years younger than Maddison, and has a different profile that suits Frank’s style much better.
His dribbling ability and speed are both attributes that are lacking in Tottenham’s squad, and would be a useful asset to the Dane’s more counter-attacking approach.
These attributes complement the different abilities of Dejan Kulusevski, who is more of a physical presence and ball-carrier, and could, in turn, see Maddison lose his place in the first team.
Maddison’s injury record is a worry for the long-term future
It is no surprise that most of the players Tottenham are linked with this summer are known for physically being robust, as Frank looks to improve Spurs’ ability to compete on multiple fronts.
Maddison’s injury record suggests that the 28-year-old can offer no such guarantees, having missed over 20 games with Spurs since his arrival two years ago, and not going a single campaign since 2018 without a spell on the sidelines.
Should he remain at Spurs, he will need to prove his fitness arguably more than his evident quality to ensure his long-term future in North London.
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