Tottenham star says he ‘can’t live’ with team-mates as Spurs are ‘serious’ about January signing

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

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

A number of clubs were rumored to be interested in signing Simmons in the summer but some may be thankful they didn’t go down that route.

After providing ten goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga last term, Simmons has managed no goals and no assists in ten appearances for Thomas Frank’s men in all competitions this season.

And Dutch journalist Johan Derricksen believes Simmons currently lacks the physical strength to succeed in the Premier League despite possessing all the required technical attributes.

Derrickson said at that Greetings from the Growlo Podcast: “He is a big player who often used his moves in the Netherlands. He also did well in Germany, but in England, he is physically stronger. If you look at the English league and go to different leagues, it is completely different.

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“You can see he can’t keep up with the pace of action and is physically weak. Whereas Tajani Rejenders doesn’t have that problem. He’s already one of the leading players at Manchester City.”

Derrickson 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 a high level of physical strength.”

Tottenham boss Frank used Florian Wertz’s struggles for Liverpool as an example to explain why Simmons has underperformed for Spurs.

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

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

“We’re all being judged every game. But we also need to take a bit of a bigger view and look over time.

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“I’m always looking for highlights and bits and pieces that we’re working on. So, for example, Xavi, I think there were some good bits there. I worked with him and asked him to get more into the box, when I look back at the game he did.

“Was there a big eye-opening moment? No, but there were good highlights. So I think it’s steadily moving in the right direction a little bit.”

Tottenham are looking at the possibility of improving their forward line in the January transfer window, according to the 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 move from French side Lille.

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