Tottenham Hotspur’s strong start to the 2025/26 season has highlighted the potential of the team Thomas Frank is building. The North London outfit is currently sitting third in the Premier League table having won four of its seven opening fixtures, drawing the other two. Spurs is finally heading in the right direction.
And yet even as Frank’s team has started strongly there have been some warning signs, the starkest of which was the home defeat to Bournemouth when the Cherries picked off Tottenham at will on the counter attack. Spurs couldn’t find a way to break through the low defensive block.
This is where Xavi Simons could become an integral figure for his new team. The Netherlands international joined Tottenham Hotspur from RB Leipzig on transfer deadline day and is the sort of creative number 10 that Frank was previously lacking. Simons could be the solution to a rather big problem.
James Maddison is sidelined through injury while Dejan Kulusevski has also yet to play a single match this season. In a number of games, like the one against Bournemouth, Tottenham has lacked someone nimble enough on the ball to create in and around the final third.
Against Leeds United, Simons demonstrated his ability to perform this role. One moment in particular stood out when the 22-year-old scooped a pass over the top of the opposition defence for Pedro Porro to latch on to and have a shot on goal. No other Spurs player on the pitch could have done that.
Spurs strengthened its squad in other ways over the summer. Mohammed Kudus arrived from West Ham to provide more directness and dribbling ability on the wings. Joao Palhinha arrived on loan from Bayern Munich while deals for Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso were made permanent.
It’s the addition of Simons, however, that could have the biggest, most meaningful impact on Tottenham’s season. The Dutchman is still finding his feet in his new surroundings and doesn’t look to have achieved full fitness and match sharpness after a summer of uncertainty. It will take Simons some time to get up to speed.
When he does, though, Simons could be the creator-in-chief that moves Tottenham into a new phase of its reconstruction under Frank. He could be the catalyst for the North London outfit to become truly competitive at the top of English and European soccer. Simons could be the key to a successful season.