Tottenham Hotspur are coming to the home stretch of the summer 2025 transfer window, and while it's been a surprisingly good market for Spurs in comparison to past windows what with the additions of Mohammed Kudus and Morgan Gibbs-White- assuming Gibbs-White does indeed arrive at N17 - there are still gaping holes in the squad in the middle of the park.
The lack of a top holding midfielder held Tottenham back last season, as Spurs were disorganized tactically from inadequate personnel in midfield - not just from Ange Postecoglou's unique tactical style. Tottenham have not signed a true midfielder this window, and they are going to have to make at least one notable signing to bolster their position.
Arguably the best overall option available in the middle of the park is hybrid 8/10 Xavi Simons. The RB Leipzig superstar has been one of the top players in the Bundesliga over the last two seasons, providing everything a midfielder could be asked to do: goals, chance creation, plenty of running, industrious defensive ball-winning, and elite ball progression.
Tottenham are interested in Simons, but so are London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in what will surely be a battle of the heavyweights. The Blues appear to be the early favorites, leaving Daniel Levy and Spurs with something to do in order to bridge the gap for an important transfer target.
Chelsea are the ones in the lead, however
Per a report from Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea and Simons are in concrete talks with Simons, and they are trying to close in on a deal this week.
Tottenham are thus behind the curve, but they are in the picture. Per Plettenberg, Leipzig want to sell Simons this summer and are asking for at least 70 million euros in exchange, which would make Simons Tottenham's most expensive transfer target of the summer: Gibbs-White and Kudus both cost 60 and 55 million pounds, respectively.
It looks like Chelsea are in a clear lead, and as long as they pay the 70 million euros Leipzig are requesting, Simons will be theirs. Tottenham and even Arsenal are behind Chelsea, and there's a sense that Spurs could be behind the Gunners, too.
A 70 million euro fee for a world-class 22-year-old midfielder who scores, assists, progresses play, and even defends at a high level is actaully money well-spent and much better than spending more than 70 million euros on two inferior players who won't move the meter towards legitimate Premier League title contention.