Tottenham have completed the £51.8m signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. The deal is a major boost for Thomas Frank, who has been looking to add an attacking midfielder.
Spurs have lost James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski to injury and have missed out on Eberechi Eze, who joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, who signed a new contract.
Chelsea were also interested in Simons but never made a bid for the 22-year-old Netherlands international. Chelsea are well stocked in attacking midfield, despite agreeing a £36m deal for Christopher Nkunku to join Milan. They have focused on a £40m deal for the Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and have targets beyond Simons, including Barcelona’s Fermín López.
Chelsea have held further talks with Barça over López. Sources have indicated the La Liga club will consider a sale if the 22-year-old asks to leave, but he is likely to cost more than £50m.
Spurs were able to take advantage of Chelsea not firming up their interest in Simons. The north London club properly entered the race on Wednesday and moved quickly to agree terms with Leipzig, who are in a hurry to finalise a deal so they can move for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott. Jürgen Klopp, the Red Bull head of global soccer and Elliott’s former manager at Liverpool, is a significant part of that proposed transfer.
Chelsea explored offloading a player to Leipzig as part of any deal for Simons but that did not appeal to the Bundesliga club and Simons flew to London on Wednesday to discuss a transfer with Spurs. He contract is expected to run to 2032.
“I will bring flair to the team but also hard work and discipline,” Simons told Spurs’ website. Frank said: “Xavi has proven his ability to get goals and assists, both from the No 10 position and left wing. He also has a great eye for his teammates in terms of unlocking defences.”
Simons had been clear about his desire to leave this summer. He came through Barcelona’s academy before spells at PSV and Paris Saint-Germain, who sold him to Leipzig last January.
In a surprise twist Chelsea have agreed a loan move for the Brighton winger Facundo Buonanotte, who was expected to join Leeds. The deal does not include an option to buy. Brighton are exploring options for a Premier League loan for the Argentina international and have no desire to sell.
Wolves are in talks over a deal to sign Tolu Arokodare from Genk. The Nigeria striker scored 17 goals in the Belgian Pro League last season and is understood to be available for between £15m and £20m. Arokodare is open to moving to the Premier League and has emerged as an option for Wolves after their pursuit of Getafe’s Christantus Uche stalled over personal terms.
West Ham have completed the £38m signing of Mateus Fernandes from Southampton. The midfielder has joined on a five-year deal and hands Graham Potter a major boost after a dreadful start to the season. West Ham also announced the £17.2m signing of defensive midfielder Soungoutou Magassa from Monaco. Magassa, 21, has signed a deal for an initial four years with an option of an extra two, and his new club highlighted his “strength, versatility and ability to break up play”.
Nottingham Forest and Eintracht Frankfurt were interested in Magassa. The France Under-21s international has opted for West Ham, who are expected to fail with an attempt to sign Ibrahim Sangaré on loan. Forest indicated they would let Sangaré go on loan only if West Ham did not sign Magassa.
Potter could look to add a third midfielder. West Ham are monitoring Feyernoord’s Quinten Timber, who has been targeted by Bayer Leverkusen. They also want a goalkeeper on loan but have turned down the chance to sign Manchester United’s André Onana. Potter is interested in bringing in a striker.
West Ham are open to selling Nayef Aguerd. The Morocco centre-back has interest from Sunderland and Marseille. The Hammers could be interested in Toulouse’s England Under-21 international Charlie Cresswell if they look to strengthen at the back.
