Thomas Frank Draws Tottenham Newcomer Away From Chelsea as PSG Gain | OneFootball

Chelsea’s pursuit of former PSG standout Xavi Simons has hit a roadblock. The club still needs to offload players who aren’t in their plans, and that delay has reportedly opened the door for Tottenham Hotspur to swoop in on the transfer.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reported that RB Leipzig have accepted an €80 million offer for Simons, with €55 million due upfront. The 22-year-old remains under contract with Leipzig until June 2027. PSG also included a sell-on clause to secure a share of any future transfer.

That clause has already paid off. Adam Crafton of The Athletic noted that PSG earned €17 million (£15 million) from Hugo Ekitiké’s move to Liverpool thanks to a similar arrangement.

Former PSG standout rejects Chelsea

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TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey reports that Simons decided after speaking with Tottenham manager Thomas Frank.

The Dutch midfielder discussed his role in the squad and the club’s plans with Frank. After the conversation, Simons was quickly convinced, making the move to Tottenham an obvious choice.

“Like with a number of Spurs’ arrivals, Thomas Frank has played a big part in this,” Bailey said. “I am told Spurs appealed to him, but Frank had a chat with him. Following that, it was a no-brainer. Simons was hugely impressed!”