Thomas Frank have to be questioning what the fuss is all about. Managing Tottenham Hotspur is not that difficult, is it? Assume once more.
Spurs kicked off their Premier League marketing campaign with back-to-back wins over Burnley and Manchester Metropolis. They even led PSG 2-0 within the UEFA Tremendous Cup. Nonetheless, a mini disaster is at all times across the nook at Spurs.
Whereas disaster could also be pushing it a bit, their 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday did elevate some alarm bells. The Cherries managed 20 pictures. Spurs managed simply 5 and did not create a single large likelihood.
Properly, the arrival of Xavi Simons ought to actually assist in that regard, however is there extra to come back for the Lilywhites? Fairly probably.
Spurs switch deadline day plans
If there’s one space that Spurs might recruit in in the course of the dying hours of the switch window, it is in assault the place you sense some high quality continues to be left to be discovered.
Quite a lot of gamers, together with Ademola Lookman and Savinho have been touted, with each gamers hoping to maneuver earlier than the window slams shut.
Savinho, particularly, is pushing for a transfer to north London and has been left annoyed by Manchester Metropolis’s stance this summer season.
Properly, it might seem an alternate has been lined up. In accordance with The Unbiased this Sunday, one participant Spurs are stated to be ‘trying’ at is AC Milan winger Rafael Leao.
The report states that Spurs would ‘choose’ to signal a winger earlier than 7pm on Monday, though a transfer for Leao is seen as a troublesome one to do at this second in time.
Why Leao is as thrilling as Simons
After James Maddison suffered an ACL damage it was crucial that Spurs went out and signed one other no.10.
They failed with their pursuit of Eberechi Eze but it surely issues no extra so far as Frank and Co are involved. Simons is now a Spurs participant.
He was unveiled in entrance of Tottenham supporters previous to the defeat to Bournemouth and he should have been wishing he was on the sphere to assist his new teammates.
Assist is strictly what he’ll present, particularly from a inventive perspective. He is additionally a goalscorer and will remodel this Spurs assault.
In 2024/25, the previous Leipzig man scored 11 objectives and provided eight assists. The marketing campaign prior, the younger Dutchman was even higher, netting ten instances and registering 15 assists.
Simons – Bundesliga (2024/25) | |
|---|---|
Stats (per 90) | Tally |
Video games | 25 |
Targets & assists | 17 |
Cross accuracy | 83% |
Possibilities created | 2.2 |
Profitable dribbles | 1.4 |
Tackles received | 75% |
Duels received | 5.7 |
Stats by way of FotMob | |
But, Leao, who has been inflicting chaos for Champions League defences lately, could be an much more thrilling addition.
The first cause is that, within the phrases of knowledge analyst Ben Mattinson, he’s “among the best left wingers on the planet”.
Why is that the case? Properly, again in 2022, Milan coach Stefano Pioli stated: “Leao jogs my memory numerous the early Thierry Henry, who began extensive then got here inside.”
It is secure to say he is some of the charming forwards on the planet, one thing backed up by the numbers. In 2024/25, the Portuguese winger scored 12 instances and likewise supplied 13 assists in all competitions. One 12 months prior, the electrical speedster scored 15 and managed 14 assists.
He is a duel menace filled with pace, chaos and power. He is like a youthful Heung-min Son in that sense.
During the last 12 months, the 26-year-old ranks inside the highest 4% of wingers in Europe’s high 5 leagues for profitable take-ons. He is so full of life and that skill to beat a participant and get in behind a backline will probably be game-changing alongside Simons.
The Netherlands worldwide is an outstanding pick-up for Spurs however Leao is a real game-changer. He is been famend as among the best wingers in European soccer for numerous years now and could be the maverick ahead Frank wants to actually push on domestically and on the continent this season.
