Key Points

• Xavi Simons, the Dutch attacking midfielder, is expected to benefit from Roberto De Zerbi’s possession‑oriented, high‑pressing style at Tottenham Hotspur.
• Simons joined Spurs from RB Leipzig last summer for a reported fee of around £51.8 million but has had a difficult debut campaign under more defensively‑minded managers.
• Under Igor Tudor and Thomas Frank, Simons has struggled to secure a consistent starting role and has recorded nine goal contributions in 38 appearances across competitions.
• Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment as head coach has been linked to a shift towards a 4‑2‑3‑1 system, with a central attacking midfielder as a key figure, a role that could suit Simons’ skill set.
• Multiple outlets, including Football Insider and Tottenham‑specific sites, describe Simons as one of the clearest “winners” under De Zerbi, given his dribbling, passing, and ability to win possession in the final third.

Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) – April 9 2026, 2026North London – Tottenham Hotspur’s latest training sessions under Roberto De Zerbi are being watched closely as a gauge of how Xavi Simons’ role might evolve at the club. As reported by Football Insider journalist Oliver Walton, Simons “has struggled to make an impact in North London while playing under two defensive bosses, in Thomas Frank and Tudor,” and is now positioned as one of the players who could thrive under De Zerbi’s attacking, possession‑heavy approach.

What has been Xavi Simons’ impact so far at Spurs?

Simons arrived at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from RB Leipzig in a deal worth approximately £51.8 million last summer, with RB Leipzig and associated media outlets confirming the transfer‑fee figure at the time of the move.

Tottenham’s in‑season campaign has been defined by relegation‑zone anxiety, and Simons’ first full season in north London has been hampered by rotations in and out of the starting line‑up and a lack of continuity in the team’s style.

According to Football Insider, Simons has recorded nine goal contributions in 38 appearances across all competitions, a return that falls short of expectations for a marquee creative midfielder at a Premier League club. As the same outlet notes,

“Simons has struggled to make an impact in North London while playing under two defensive bosses,”

referring to Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, whose tenure has prioritised defensive solidity over expansive attacking football.

How does De Zerbi’s approach differ tactically?

Several tactical analyses, including those from Football.london and the Premier League’s official analysis desk, outline that De Zerbi typically favours a 4‑2‑3‑1 shape with a clearly defined No. 10 operating centrally to orchestrate attacks. As highlighted in a Premier League analysis piece, Tottenham

“will have a silky No. 10 that De Zerbi teams need,”

with Simons’ profile aligning closely with the type of creative, technically adept midfielder the Italian likes to deploy in that role.

Football.london’s preview of how Tottenham could line up under De Zerbi without major spending suggests that Archie Gray could form a double pivot alongside James Maddison, while Simons is framed as a candidate for the central attacking role once Maddison returns from injury. Specialist tactical outlet Footballplace.co.uk adds that

“Xavi Simons appears one of the clearest winners from the managerial change,”

noting that

“De Zerbi’s preference for a structured 4‑2‑3‑1 system could provide Simons with a defined role as a central attacking midfielder.”

Why is Simons considered a natural fit for De Zerbi’s system?

Football Insider’s profile of Simons under De Zerbi emphasises his profile as a strong dribbler and passer, with the club‑focused journalist pointing out that Simons is

“joint‑fourth among all Premier League players for possession won in the final third per 90 minutes.”

The same article notes that the Dutchman

“earned a move to Spurs after shining in Marco Rose’s high‑intensity, midfield‑overloading system at RB Leipzig,”

meaning he is accustomed to playing in a proactive, ball‑oriented structure rather than a more rigid, reactive setup.

Footballplace.co.uk expands on this, explaining that Simons’ strengths – quick movement, close‑control, and orientation towards the final third –

“could be unlocked” if De Zerbi is allowed time to implement his preferred pressing and positional principles. A separate piece titled 

“How Tottenham Could Set Up Under Roberto De Zerbi” 

on SI.com adds that, if De Zerbi reverts to the 4‑2‑3‑1 that has been his default “throughout his career on the touchline,” he would be

“wise to maximize the creative talents of Xavi Simons in a No. 10 position,”

even if the Dutchman has developed much of his reputation in European‑level competitions rather than domestic league play.

Club‑specific views on Simons’ potential under De Zerbi

Tottenham‑centric outlets such as Hotspur HQ have described Simons as one of the players who will “blossom” under De Zerbi, arguing that the Italian’s fondness for “uber athletic and uber technical creative, box‑to‑box hybrid mavens” aligns neatly with Simons’ attributes.

The Hotspur HQ author notes that

“if he can get him into better positions to affect play in the final third, Simons could be come a double‑digit assist guy next season pretty easily,”

pointing to the assist‑creation potential rather than goalscoring alone.

A broader “winners and losers” analysis published by Footballplace.co.uk lists Simons as one of the clear beneficiaries of the managerial change, stating that “with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski still unavailable, the opportunity is there for him to take control of Tottenham’s attacking play” under De Zerbi’s system. The piece also flags that Tottenham’s wider context – a team “just one point and one place above the Premier League relegation zone” – means that De Zerbi may have to balance immediate survival with longer‑term tactical identity‑building, of which Simons’ role is a key part.

What do we know about De Zerbi’s early training sessions?

Video material released by Tottenham shows De Zerbi’s first training session at Hotspur Way, including drills that emphasise short passing patterns and positional interchange, in keeping with the style for which he became known at Brighton and Marseille.

While the footage does not explicitly single out Simons, the club’s handling of the session as a “behind the scenes” preview suggests an intention to signal a shift towards a more proactive, technical approach to the fanbase and media.

Football.london’s preview of De Zerbi’s potential line‑up notes that the coach may reshuffle wide options, with players such as Mikey Moore and Xavi Simons competing for the attacking‑midfield berth depending on fitness and form.

The Premier League‑linked analysis piece adds that De Zerbi will “appreciate the aggression of Cristian Romero and Richarlison” but also stresses that “Xavi Simons is the silky No. 10 that De Zerbi teams need,” implying that the Dutchman’s profile is viewed internally as a crucial piece of the puzzle.

Background to Simons’ Spurs campaign and De Zerbi’s appointment

Xavi Simons’ move from RB Leipzig to Tottenham Hotspur was finalised last summer for a reported fee of about £51.8 million, with Bundesliga‑focused coverage confirming that the clubs had agreed on a €60 million package for the 22‑year‑old. At RB Leipzig he had built a reputation in fast‑paced, high‑pressing systems under managers such as Marco Rose, earning attention for his assist‑heavy performances and ability to operate in the attacking half.

Tottenham’s managerial transition from Thomas Frank to Igor Tudor, followed by the reported move towards De Zerbi, has been framed as a search for a style that better matches the club’s technical assets. Football Insider’s managerial‑hub reporting notes that De Zerbi is

“Spurs’ top target to replace the Croatian” after a run of poor results, including a 3‑0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, that left the club

“just one point above the Premier League relegation zone”

at the time of the change.

How this development has been framed by different outlets

• Football Insider (Oliver Walton): Describes Simons as one of three players who will “thrive under Roberto De Zerbi,” emphasising his dribbling, passing, and possession‑winning in the final third as well‑suited to De Zerbi’s high‑pressing, front‑foot style.
• Footballplace.co.uk: Labels Simons a clear “winner” from the managerial change, arguing that the 4‑2‑3‑1 structure and central No. 10 role fit his profile, especially in the absence of Maddison and Kulusevski.
• Hotspur HQ: Portrays Simons as a player who could “blossom” under De Zerbi, highlighting his potential to become a double‑digit assist provider once given defined responsibilities in the final third.
• Premier League analysis (Premier League.com): Notes that Simons is the “silky No. 10 that De Zerbi teams need,” underlining his suitability for the role in a possession‑oriented system.

Prediction: How this development could affect fans and stakeholders

For Tottenham supporters, De Zerbi’s introduction of a more attacking, ball‑dominant model could translate into clearer, more consistent usage of Xavi Simons as a central playmaker, with the Dutchman asked to dictate tempo and create chances rather than plug gaps in a reactive structure. If Simons adapts quickly to the positional demands of the 4‑2‑3‑1, this could yield more visible assists and incisive runs, potentially improving the team’s goal‑creation metrics and crowd engagement at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

For club executives and the board, a De Zerbi‑driven uptick in Simons’ performances would help justify the £51.8 million outlay and strengthen the case for retaining him as a long‑term creative lynchpin.

At the same time, if the Dutchman fails to translate that investment into tangible on‑pitch improvements during a relegation‑battle season, the board may face pressure to reassess both the manager’s impact and the viability of maintaining a high‑wage, high‑expectation midfielder in a financially constrained environment.

For fantasy‑football players and betting‑market analysts, greater clarity around Simons’ role as a central attacking midfielder under De Zerbi could increase his perceived value in points‑based formats and in markets linked to assists, key passes, and shots‑created. Analysts tracking pressing and possession statistics may also monitor whether Simons’ already‑ranked “possession won in the final third per 90” numbers rise under a system that encourages more frequent ball‑winning in advanced areas.