Xavi Simons is the player that Tottenham Hotspur must look towards for the quality to keep them in the Premier League.
If relegation concerns weren’t already strong before, they certainly are now with Spurs having just five games left to maintain their Premier League status.
Roberto De Zerbi is winless from his first two games in charge, with the Lilywhites still searching for the first win of 2026, almost five months into the year.
To achieve that, Spurs need their big players to provide the quality in the final third, and there have been some signs of improvement.
Simons managed a goal and an assist in Tottenham’s latest draw with Brighton, and De Zerbi has a clear call to make with the Dutchman to boost their survival chances.
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Xavi Simons holds key to Premier Leaguer survival
While he may not have had the full impact that many would have hoped, Simons has still often been the difference for Tottenham this season.
And yet he has been named as a substitute for nine of the 27 games he has featured in the Premier League this season.
Despite that, the 23-year-old still has two goals and five assists in the Premier League, and ranks among the best in the top flight for several metrics.
Simons averages 1.70 chances created per game this season, which has him among the top 25 per cent of midfielders in the Premier League, with an average of 0.37 big chances per 90.
His 1.49 completed dribbles per game also sees him among the top 29 per cent of players, with a 43.8 per cent completion rate.
Simons is always looking to get on the ball and make something happen for Tottenham, which he has done almost every time he has been utilised from the start.
If De Zerbi wants to keep Tottenham in the top flight, he must avoid the error of naming Simons on the bench, with the Dutchman arguably the most important player ahead of the final five games.
Souza could be key to getting the best from Simons
Since arriving in January, Souza has played just 144 minutes of Premier League football.
The Brazillian has a reputation of being an attacking wing-back, which could be the key to getting Simons at his best.
His willingess to overlap would create space for the Dutchman to operate in, which has been vital whenever he has been involved in the final third.
It would be a big call to make for De Zerbi, but one that may pay off.
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