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After a strong start to the season, Richarlison’s form appears to be tailing off, and the Tottenham striker’s latest performance for Brazil may pose a problem for Thomas Frank.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker was arguably the club’s best performer across the first three games of the season against Paris Saint-Germain, Burnley and Man City.

Richarlison even won the Premier League Player of the Week award in gameweek one for his brilliant brace in the 3-0 win over the Clarets.

However, the 28-year-old struggled in the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth, being bullied by the Cherries centre-halves and failing to give Spurs an out-ball when they were under pressure. It appears that his struggles have continued during the international break.

Brazilian media were not impressed with Richarlison against Bolivia

The former Everton man got just 11 minutes under his belt in Brazil’s 3-0 win at home against Chile last week, with Chelsea’s Joao Pedro getting the nod to start as the number nine.

However, Carlo Ancelotti gave Richarlison an opportunity to lead the line away at Bolivia on Tuesday, but the Spurs man failed to take his chance as the Selecao fell to a 1-0 defeat.

Richarlison was replaced by Pedro on 61 minutes, and the Brazilian media were not too impressed with what they saw from the Tottenham striker.

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GE Globo gave him a 5/10 and wrote: “He was rarely called upon. On his only chance, in the 37th minute of the first half, he controlled the ball, burst into the box, and struck hard, but the ball deflected off the defender.

“He left the game during the first substitution, in the 17th minute of the second half. He has remained goalless for the national team since the World Cup in Qatar.”

Will Thomas Frank be tempted to start Randal Kolo Muani?

Richarlison’s mini-slump in form is a cause for concern for Thomas Frank, particularly given that there remain doubts over Dominic Solanke’s fitness.

However, Frank’s squad has been boosted with Tottenham’s deadline-day loan signing of Randal Kolo Munai, who adds experience and firepower to the Spurs frontline.

Things could not be going much better for Ryan Mason right now, as the former Tottenham assistant is thriving in his first real managerial role since leaving the club in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur has been undergoing a handful of changes in recent weeks, but those changes did not exactly start recently.

Earlier in the summer, Tottenham confirmed the departure of long-time servant Ryan Mason, one of Ange Postecoglou’s assistants, following his move to Championship side West Bromwich Albion, who appointed him as their new first-team coach.

Mason is not a stranger to coaching, having stepped up on several occasions during his time at Tottenham, often taking the role of caretaker manager.

Ryan Mason enjoying bright start at West Brom after Tottenham exit

Following his move to the Hawthorns, Ryan Mason appears to be enjoying a fine start to life in the Championship, already managing to make an impression in his first run of games.

The former Tottenham caretaker has been nominated for August’s Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award, a recognition that underlines how well his side has begun under his guidance.

Mason currently has West Brom sitting second in the Championship table, having won three of his opening four fixtures and drawn the other, keeping an unbeaten start and giving the supporters plenty of reason for optimism.

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What Ryan Mason’s rise means for Tottenham fans

Following Mason’s departure, Tottenham fans were quick to wish him well, with many believing a move to the Baggies was the perfect step for the young coach at this stage of his career.

Mason has not yet enjoyed a full season in charge of a team, with caretaker spells at Tottenham being the most he has achieved in management so far, meaning this opportunity with West Brom is a chance to prove himself over the course of a campaign.

Uncertainty has swirled around Tottenham this month, but one journalist explains why the Lewis family are adamant Spurs are not for sale.

The future of Tottenham Hotspur has been a subject of debate in recent weeks, particularly after the departure of Daniel Levy.

There is a genuine sense of transition at Tottenham, but for all the speculation surrounding the boardroom, the Lewis family still hold majority control at the club and remains uninterested in cashing out.

Instead, reports suggest that the family are ready to double down on their commitment, with suggestions that they are prepared to invest further at a time when two separate investors have attempted to prise control of Tottenham away from the Lewis family.

The message from the very top is unambiguous – Tottenham is not for sale, and the new era will be shaped with the Lewis family continuing to drive the project forward.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, journalist Kaveh Solhekol offered insight into the situation, pointing out that Tottenham fans have often voiced frustration over the club’s financial model and the wage structure when compared to rivals.

He explained that there could be a shift, as the Lewis family may be prepared to inject more funds into the club, with their expectation being that the leadership team deliver greater success on the pitch. Solhekol outlined:

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“You know, a lot of Tottenham fans complain about the fact that we do not spend as much money on players as our rivals. We do not pay the kind of wages that our rivals pay.

“Now that could be set to change, because Tottenham’s majority owners, the Lewis family, could be ready to put more money into the club, and how would that extra money be spent?

“Well, that would be up to the leadership team at Tottenham, because they have been told what you need to do is deliver more success on the pitch. If they decide that the best way to use that money is to pay more wages, because at the moment Tottenham’s wages to turnover ratio is the lowest in the Premier League, 42%.

“If they believe we need to pay players higher wages or if we need to spend more in the transfer market, then I think they will be backed to do that, because I know that lots of reports of Tottenham could be for sale, but the majority owners of Tottenham are the Lewis family and the message I am receiving is that Tottenham is not for sale.

“They have no interest whatsoever in selling Tottenham, and I think it is significant that senior members of the Lewis family are expected to be at the Tottenham game against West Ham on Saturday.”

Why the Lewis family do not want to sell Spurs

Solhekol went on to reveal why the Lewis family remain adamant that Spurs is not up for sale, even when sizeable offers have come their way.

He said the family have no financial incentive to walk away, and reminded viewers that they have been custodians of the club for a quarter of a century, pointing out:

“Okay, people are talking about Tottenham being worth 2,3,4 billion pounds. The bottom line is that the Lewis family do not need the money, they have no desire to sell the club they have owned Tottenham for 25 years, they are Tottenham supporters, they have never taken a dividend out of the club.

“They are well aware that Tottenham is a very valuable asset. Just because a lot of people want to buy something, it does not mean that you are going to sell it, because they are well aware of the fact that Tottenham are very positioned to have more success in the future; they just need to get things right.”

Thomas Frank is gearing up for his first London derby as Tottenham Hotspur boss, and now we have taken a closer look at his record against sides from the capital and what that might mean for Spurs this season.

Following his move from Brentford to Tottenham Hotspur, Thomas Frank has had just over two months to settle into life in North London.

Two wins from three Premier League fixtures have the Tottenham boss sat in fourth place heading into matchweek four when Tottenham take on West Ham United.

This clash marks the first London derby of the season for Tottenham, with six more capital showdowns still to come.

Spurs Web have taken a closer look at Thomas Frank’s record against London sides to get a clearer idea of what Tottenham supporters can expect from the Dane this season.

Thomas Frank’s London derby record at Brentford

So far in his managerial career, Thomas Frank has faced each of the current Premier League clubs from London more than once, aside from Brentford, which he previously managed.

Across the 25/26 campaign, Tottenham will face Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, and West Ham United as they travel across the capital.

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Looking at the numbers, Tottenham fans can take some encouragement from the fact that Frank’s sides have always been competitive in London derbies.

Frank has overseen 45 matches against London opposition in the Premier League, picking up 17 wins in the process and beating each of the capital’s sides at least once.

However, he has also suffered 19 defeats in these fixtures, with Arsenal proving the toughest challenge as they have beaten Frank six times in their nine meetings.

That said, his record shows that he has been able to secure big results against the very best, with Chelsea in particular finding Frank’s Brentford difficult to deal with.

Frank’s Premier League record against London clubs

Tottenham fans will expect Thomas Frank to improve

It is important to note that Frank went toe-to-toe with Arsenal and Chelsea while managing a Brentford side that, in terms of quality and squad depth, was nowhere near the level of Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca’s sides.

Even so, he still gave these heavyweights a fair contest, and his record against Chelsea stands out, with three wins, three draws and three defeats across nine matches.

Against clubs closer to Brentford in the Premier League table, Frank managed to achieve an impressive balance, winning five of his 10 games against Fulham, securing six wins against West Ham United in nine matches, and taking two victories over Crystal Palace in eight games, with five of those ending in draws.

Now with Spurs, Frank is leading a stronger, more talented squad, and the expectation will be for him to turn those competitive performances into consistent victories in London derbies.

First up is West Ham United, a side Frank has enjoyed plenty of success against, and Tottenham fans will be hoping he can extend that record with a positive result at the London Stadium.

Amidst reports suggesting that Tottenham Hotspur are looking to loan out Yves Bissouma, Fabrizio Romano has now revealed what his sources have told him about the Spurs midfielder’s future.

Despite the transfer window in the UK and much of Europe closing a week and a half ago, Tottenham have still been trying to offload Bissouma as the window remains open in a few countries.

However, the Spurs midfielder’s chances of moving to Turkey have seemingly collapsed over the last few days.

According to reports, Galatasaray pulled out of an agreement to sign Bissouma due to concerns about his fitness, while their cross-city rivals, Fenerbahce, have now also seemingly cooled their interest.

Fabrizio Romano weighs in on Yves Bissouma’s Tottenham future

Some sources have suggested that Fenerbache turned down the chance to sign the Tottenham man due to his disciplinary record, and with the Turkish window closing in a matter of hours, a move to Istanbul now looks unlikely for the 28-year-old.

It has been claimed by Football Insider that Spurs are even ready to loan out Bissouma in a desperate late attempt to get him out of the door, but Fabrizio Romano has now said that an exit from N17 is not close for the former Brighton man.

When asked if there is any concrete movement in Bissouma’s potential departure from Tottenham, Romano told GiveMeSport: “No, at the moment it’s gone quiet.”

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Why have Spurs not been able to offload Bissouma?

At the start of the summer window, it was being reported that Bissouma was attracting interest from sides across Europe, and that made sense considering he played a big part in Tottenham’s Europa League win.

However, it is possible that Thomas Frank’s public admission of Bissouma’s disciplinary issues caused alarm bells to ring among interested clubs, especially given that the midfielder already has a history of inappropriate behaviour.

Atletico Madrid are keen on signing one of Tottenham’s most experienced players on a free contract next summer, but Spurs are clearly against the idea.

Tottenham have managed to tie down two key players to a new contract recently, with Djed Spence putting pen to paper on a long-term deal, while more importantly, club captain Cristian Romero has also committed his future to Spurs.

All through the summer, we have been hearing that Tottenham intend to open contract talks with Rodrigo Bentancur, who is now into the final 12 months of his deal.

The Uruguayan has made a solid start to the season, with Thomas Frank showing plenty of faith in the former Juventus man, but it turns out that one club are not giving up their hopes of prising the player away from Spurs.

Atletico Madrid want to lure Rodrigo Bentancur away from Tottenham

This update comes from Fichajes, who say that the lack of movement in Bentancur’s contract situation has attracted the attention of Atletico Madrid.

The report claims that Conor Gallagher, who has been linked with a move to Spurs, is expected to depart the Spanish capital and return to the Premier League next summer, with Atletico identifying the Tottenham man as the ideal replacement.

Diego Simone believes that the 28-year-old will be a perfect fit for his side’s midfield and would provide balance and resilience to the Colchoneros.

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However, the report makes it clear that the La Liga giants are only considering signing Bentancur as a free agent and will not be keen to negotiate a deal with Tottenham Hotspur should the player sign a new contract at the North London club.

Bentancur would welcome a move to Atletico Madrid

More concerningly, Fichajes say that the former Juventus man would welcome a move to Spanish football, having played in Argentina, Italy and England.

He allegedly views a switch to a club like Atletico as the ‘natural next step’ in his career.

Tottenham supporters have been left split after fresh reports revealed that Rodrigo Bentancur is in advanced talks with the club over a new contract.

Tottenham Hotspur were said to have opened early discussions with Rodrigo Bentancur some time ago, though progress seemed to stall, leaving uncertainty around his long-term future in north London.

That stance now appears to have shifted, as reports claim that Tottenham are moving quickly to secure fresh terms for Bentancur, a player Thomas Frank has already been impressed with since stepping into the dugout.

With less than a year remaining on Bentancur’s current contract, the urgency from the Spurs is clear, as there is a strong sense that the club do not wish to risk losing a senior figure in midfield.

Tottenham fans split on Rodrigo Bentancur contract talks

Spurs Supporters have wasted no time reacting to the news of renewed talks, and the opinions reflect the divided view of Rodrigo Bentancur’s value to the side.

One fan bluntly remarked: “He is good until he is not. He is not consistent.” Another was clear about his stance, saying: “Make it quick. If he does not sign, move him on. He has flattered to deceive anyway.”

Others, however, were more upbeat, with one declaring: “Finally let’s goooo” and another adding: “Deserved.” One Tottenham fan even called Bentancur the “most underrated player in the squad”, while another urged Spurs to “double his wages” and “keep the spine” of the team.

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Yet scepticism remained, as another fan simply stated: “Not good enough and should have sold him.” Another argued that Bentancur is “Not up to league team winning standard, even for a bench spot.”

Bentancur’s role under Thomas Frank

Rodrigo Bentancur has already played a notable role under Frank this season, with the 28-year-old starting two of Tottenham’s opening three Premier League fixtures.

He has been paired in midfield with loan arrival Joao Palhinha, with the duo tasked with forming a partnership that can anchor the side across the campaign.

Xavi Simons is a professional football player who plays as a creative midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur football club.

Tottenham Hotspur made Xavi Simons their fifth signing of the 2025 summer window under new manager Thomas Frank, as the club looked to inject fresh creativity into midfield.

The Netherlands international joined Spurs at a time when James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski were sidelined with injuries, leaving the squad short of attacking spark and invention.

It was hardly a straightforward pursuit for Tottenham, with the club originally chasing Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze earlier in the window, but as the deadline approached and both slipped away, Spurs moved swiftly to secure Simons, a player long admired across Europe.

Here is a closer look into the life and career of Tottenham’s new number 7 – Xavi Simons.

Who is Xavi Simons

Xavi Quentin Shay Simons, born 21 April 2003, is a 22-year-old Dutch professional footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur and the Netherlands national team.

He wears the number seven shirt at Tottenham, succeeding club legend Heung-min Son, who departed earlier in the 2025 summer.

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Xavi Simons at PSG, PSV and RB Leipzig

A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Simons switched to Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, initially joining the under-19s before making his senior debut in 2021. He lifted both the Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France during his time in Paris.

In 2022, Simons returned to the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven, where he enjoyed a breakout campaign, winning the KNVB Cup, Johan Cruyff Shield, and finishing as Eredivisie’s joint top scorer in his only season there. His form earned him a swift return to PSG, who immediately loaned him to RB Leipzig in Germany.

Over two seasons in the Bundesliga, he enhanced his reputation with consistent output, and in 2025, he made a permanent move to Tottenham Hotspur, signalling his readiness to take on the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur sign Xavi Simons for £51m

On 29 August 2025, Tottenham confirmed the signing of Xavi Simons on a five-year deal, with the fee understood to be around £51.8 million.

The move came after Tottenham failed to land other targets, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze opting for rival clubs.

Yet the deal was notable for Simons’ decision to reject Chelsea, who had pursued him aggressively throughout the summer.

It was a statement signing for Thomas Frank, underlining Spurs’ intent to add quality and depth in a pivotal area of the pitch.

Xavi Simons’ career honours and individual awards

Simons has already built a strong honours list for a 22-year-old. With PSG, he won Ligue 1 in 2021-22 and the Coupe de France in 2020-21.

At PSV Eindhoven, he claimed the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield in 2022, while at RB Leipzig he lifted the DFL-Supercup in 2023.

Individually, he was named Eredivisie Player of the Month twice, Eredivisie Talent of the Month once, and shared the Eredivisie Golden Boot in 2022-23.

He was crowned Eredivisie Talent of the Year, while in Germany he collected Bundesliga Rookie of the Month awards, Bundesliga Goal of the Month awards, and was included in the VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season.

Xavi Simons career honours and individual awards

Paris Saint-Germain

PSV Eindhoven

RB Leipzig

Individual

Xavi Simons club career stats

Across his senior career, Simons has produced strong numbers. At RB Leipzig, he made 78 appearances with 22 goals and 24 assists, while at PSV Eindhoven, he scored 22 goals with 11 assists in 48 matches.

His time at PSG was more limited, with just 11 senior appearances, though he impressed heavily at the youth level, scoring freely for both the under-19s and in UEFA Youth League action.

Xavi Simons positional breakdown by appearances and output

Simons is highly versatile across the attacking midfield line. His most frequent role has been on the left wing, where he played 59 matches with 18 goals and 17 assists. In the number ten role, he excelled with 42 appearances, scoring 19 goals and creating 12 assists.

He has also been deployed on the right wing (27 matches, 7 goals, 6 assists) and as a centre-forward (10 appearances, 5 goals, 6 assists).

He has featured less frequently in deeper midfield or second striker roles but has shown he can adapt wherever required.

Xavi Simons injury record by season

Simons has largely maintained a clean injury record across his young career, though in the 2024-25 campaign, he suffered an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for 70 days and forced him to miss 15 games.

Xavi Simons’ personal life

Born in Amsterdam, Simons is the son of Peggy Simons and Regillio Simons, a former Dutch footballer of Surinamese descent. His older brother Faustino, also a footballer, shares the same birthday.

Off the pitch, he became one of the most marketable teenagers in football, signing his first Nike deal at 13, later moving to Adidas and eventually Puma.

Simons also featured in a 2018 Nike advert alongside global stars like Neymar and Ronaldinho, and built a huge online following early in his career. His representation changed hands after the passing of Mino Raiola, and in 2023 he signed with Darren Dein as his agent.

Ange Postecoglou has spoken about how he felt when Tottenham Hotspur decided to part ways with him despite the Europa League win, and has revealed how Spurs supporters have reacted when he has met them since his departure.

Just a few months on from being let go by Tottenham, Postecoglou is back in the Premier League, replacing Nuno Espirito Santo at the helm at Nottingham Forest.

The Forest bench will have an extremely familiar look for Spurs fans, with former Spurs assistants Mile Jedinak and Nick Montgomery reuniting with Postecoglou at the Midlands club.

The decision to sack Postecoglou did not sit well with many Tottenham fans, coming as it did just a couple of weeks after the club’s historic Europa League success, and the Australian has revealed how Spurs fans have reacted to him since his departure.

Ange Postecoglou claims Tottenham fans want to give him a hug

The Tottenham fans had waited for 17 years for a trophy, with a whole generation of supporters not having seen the club lift any silverware before the famous night in Bilbao.

Postecoglou has revealed that while it was not a great feeling, he has felt nothing but warmth and appreciation from the Spurs supporters since he left N17.

Speaking on his sacking from Tottenham, the new Forest head coach said (via Jonathan Veal): “It wasn’t great, I knew it was coming. It wasn’t a surprise. We had the parade, but I knew it was done.

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“From my perspective, you have a chance to process that. We put the fans through some tough times, but there isn’t a Spurs fan who doesn’t want to hug me.”

Postecoglou will get a great reception from Spurs fans

Despite Tottenham’s struggles in the Premier League last season, Spurs fans will always be thankful to Postecoglou for being the one to finally help the club get across the line and end their trophy drought.

He achieved something that some of the biggest names in world football, such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, failed to do at Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur fans have wasted no time in sharing their thoughts on new signing Xavi Simons, with his first training session at Hotspur Way sparking plenty of excitement for the season ahead.

The international break has finally come to an end, with focus now shifting firmly back onto club football for at least the next month before another pause in domestic action arrives.

Tottenham Hotspur had a number of players representing their countries during the break, including summer signing Xavi Simons.

The 22-year-old midfielder turned out for the Netherlands but was unable to register any goal contributions during his time on international duty.

After getting valuable minutes into his legs while away, Simons has now returned to Hotspur Way, where he has taken part in his very first training session in a Tottenham shirt.

Tottenham fans react to Xavi Simons training session

Spurs supporters are buzzing to see their £51 million signing out on the training pitch, with many convinced that he will make a significant impact this season.

One fan wrote: “I feel Xavi will be great this season,” while another commented: “Genuinely looks buzzing to be here. Great to see.”

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A third supporter could not hide their excitement, joking: “‘Find Xavi!’ I am willing to donate ankles, knees, hips and organs if needed this season.”

Another fan added: “He is so good,” with one supporter confidently predicting: “15 goals, 10 assists season. 99% loading.” A final comment summed up the general mood: “Can’t wait to see him play.”

What Spurs can expect from Simons

Xavi Simons produced 11 goals and eight assists in Germany last season for RB Leipzig, and Tottenham fans will be hoping for even stronger numbers this time around in north London.

The midfielder is yet to make his competitive debut in a Tottenham shirt since his £51 million move, but that could change as soon as this weekend.