Tottenham star told he ‘can’t keep up’ with team-mates as Spurs are ‘serious’ about January signing | OneFootball

Tottenham summer signing Xavi Simons has been told “he can’t keep up with the speed of action” in the Premier League since joining Spurs.

The Netherlands international signed for Tottenham in the summer transfer window from RB Leipzig in a deal worth around £52m.

There were rumours that many clubs were interested in buying Simons in the summer but some may be thankful they didn’t go down that route.

Simons has contributed no goals and one assist in ten appearances in all competitions for Thomas Frank’s men this season after providing ten goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga last term.

And Dutch journalist Johan Derksen thinks Simons currently lacks the physical strength to succeed in the Premier League despite possessing all the needed technical attributes.

Derksen said on the Groeten uit Grolloo podcast: “He’s a great player who often used his tricks in the Netherlands. He also performed well in Germany, but in England, they are much stronger physically. If you look at the English league and switch to a different league, it’s completely different.

“You can see that he can’t keep up with the speed of action and is physically weaker. While Tijjani Reijnders doesn’t have that problem; he’s already one of the leading players at Manchester City.”

Derksen added: “In the past, a lightweight with good technique could easily hold his own. Technique is no longer the only thing you need to contribute; you also need physical strength at the top level.”

Tottenham boss Frank used Florian Wirtz’s struggles for Liverpool as an example to explain why Simons has been underperforming for Spurs.

Frank told reporters: “I think that’s a very good question. Also, a very good comparison with Wirtz, who is also a very good player, just like Xavi.

“A very good player coming into a couple of things – new country, new club, new city. You just need to settle in, and it is part of it.

“We are all getting judged every game. But we also need to see the little bit bigger perspective and see it over time.

“I always look for glimpses and bits and pieces we are working at. So, for example, Xavi, I think there were some good bits. I worked with him and asked him to be more arriving in the box, which, when I looked back at the game, he did.

“Was there a big eye-catching moment? No, but there were good glimpses. So I think it’s constantly going a little bit in the right direction.”

Tottenham are looking at the possibility of improving their forward line in the January transfer window with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport claiming that Spurs and Bayern Munich are ‘serious’ about signing Jonathan David, who has just one goal in ten appearances since his summer transfer from French side Lille.