Thomas Frank wants consistency at Tottenham Hotspur, having blown cold and hot within the months since changing Ange Postecoglou within the dugout.
Postecoglou gained the Europa League final season, however he was dismissed from his duties – some would name it Daniel Levy’s remaining act – and a brand new period has been ushered in, with Frank making a collection of signings and transforming the Spurs set-up.
Room for another? The Londoners’ attacking efforts have left one thing to be desired this season, and with a lot on the road this time period, ENIC Group have a dream of signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in the course of the January switch window.
The most recent on Spurs’ curiosity in Semenyo
Bournemouth supposedly rejected a proposal from Tottenham for Semenyo’s signature in the course of the low season. However the Lilywhites are again within the operating, able to contest Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis for the Ghana winger’s companies, together with his £65m launch clause going reside in January.
It is going to be troublesome, luring the 25-year-old to north London subsequent month. Whereas all of the pointers recommend Semenyo will depart the Vitality Stadium, he has a spread of elite outfits to select from, and Liverpool and Metropolis usually get their approach within the switch market.
However Tottenham do want a talismanic drive on the left flank. In spite of everything, Heung-min Son left for Los Angeles after lifting the Europa League trophy, and his presence and affect have been keenly missed.
Persistence, although, is so usually a advantage in soccer, and whereas Spurs do not have a frontline firing on all cylinders proper now, Frank leads numerous gamers who might develop into actual stars down the road.
And there is one particularly who has fired himself into kind over the previous week, together with his market worth a mirrored image of simply how proficient he’s.
The Spurs star who’s overtaken Semenyo
This summer season, Tottenham accomplished a collection of signings, and after we look again on that window, we’d view Xavi Simons as being the choose of the bunch. The Netherlands star, 21 years outdated, moved from RB Leipzig for about £51m in August, having been pursued by Chelsea.
He hadn’t hit the bottom operating this season – removed from it – however Simons is beginning to develop into his pores and skin, and his silky, combative model of play suggests he might have been good for the Mauricio Pochettino period.
Sure, Simons’ pure playmaking qualities make him a tailored match for that thrilling chapter of the earlier decade. He has been flagged for an absence of physicality amid early-season struggles, however Simons is starting to place these to relaxation, settling into life in London.
It is a show-stopper of a midfielder, boasting one thing particular, one thing totally different to his teammates. When Frank will get his squad taking part in to his tune from a artistic vantage, you may guess that Simons shall be smack-bang in the midst of the success.
Already he ranks among the many high 8% of positional friends within the Premier League this season for passes tried and ball recoveries, in addition to the highest 3% for ball recoveries per 90 (knowledge by way of FBref).
A ball restoration is outlined by the variety of free balls recovered by a participant.
And he is starting to showcase a flair for the defensive facet of the sport, working arduous in restoration and getting caught in when towards the ball.
|
Xavi Simons’ Previous Two Video games for Spurs |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Match Stats |
vs Brentford |
vs Slavia Prague |
|
Minutes performed |
90′ |
90′ |
|
Targets |
1 |
1 |
|
Assists |
1 |
0 |
|
Touches |
60 |
70 |
|
Photographs (on the right track) |
4 (2) |
3 (1) |
|
Correct passes |
36/43 (84%) |
35/41 (85%) |
|
Probabilities created |
1 |
0 |
|
Dribbles |
0/0 |
1/4 |
|
Recoveries |
7 |
2 |
|
Tackles gained |
0/1 |
1/2 |
|
Floor duels gained |
4/7 |
6/16 |
|
Knowledge by way of Sofascore |
||
Hailed by statistician Statman Dave for his potential to create “magic” on the ball, Simons suffered a tricky begin to his Tottenham profession, however he has proven flashes of elite high quality all through the marketing campaign, and now, with two targets from as many video games, there is a sense that the Dutchman might be about to kick on.
May we be set to return to the halycon days of Poch’s reign? Tottenham did not win a trophy then, however the soccer was good, envied, and Simons seems like he might be an architect of such a revival of creativity and sharpness within the remaining third.
He has simply began to earn some recognition, having already confirmed himself on the monetary entrance, with CIES Soccer Observatory suggesting his worth has already skyrocketed to £95m since his summer season transfer, above Semenyo’s most market worth of £67m.
Semenyo can be a terrific addition, and there is not any query that offensive signings shall be made in 2026, however Tottenham followers should do not forget that their membership have signed some of the thrilling playmakers within the enterprise, and after seeing his market worth skyrocket, he is solely going to maintain getting higher.
Frank’s reply to Declan Rice: Spurs have discovered a “future £100m” famous person
Tottenham’s long-term imaginative and prescient is among the many most bold in all of Europe.