Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the signature of RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Zabi Simons after missing out on Evele Eze to Arsenal.
Thomas Frank’s side ezzeted his top offensive midfield target earlier this month, but the deal was hijacked by their arch rivals.
Boyhood Gunners fan and former hale ending young Eze has been smiling 24/7 since returning to seniors to North London when he put his pen on paper.
An attempt to seduce the mysterious Argentine Nicopass from Como has failed.
Pass will permanently join Como from Real Madrid this summer, with the Spanish giants having the option to buy back, which is scheduled to work out next summer. Their message (reportedly) is: Don’t go to Spurs as they will come to us in 2026.
There were rumors of Bilal El Cannas of Leicester City and Harvey Elliot of Liverpool, but they eventually landed at Leipzig Maestro Simons.
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Chelsea had been linked to the 22-year-old for several weeks, but there was a personal agreement on terms.
Nevertheless, they did not agree to the fees with Leipzig.
When it was revealed that Spurs was the Trunners for the Simons’ signature, Chelsea was essentially not commissioned.
They are currently focusing on outgoing after agreeing to a £40 million deal with Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, with Nicholas Jackson and Christopher Nukank among those heading towards the exit door.
Still, it’s great to feel like the Spurs have finally had it on Chelsea, who has experience hijacking their deals. Willian clearly comes to mind.
Hijacking felt inevitable, but the Spurs are decisive, with players with great potential and some who are better than their original top target (after Morgan Gibbs White).
There is a clear positivity in both deals, but the Spurs were five years younger and probably more dynamic, versatile and destroyed it with someone else’s signature.
Simons’ pace and his ability to produce the very important final product will make him a difference for new head coach Frank.
And this is a very exciting team as he line up alongside players like Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Mattis Tell and Brennan Johnson.
The Simons total package is reportedly just over £56 million, which is £12 million under what Arsenal paid Eze.
Therefore, he is cheaper than Eze, plays at a higher level than Eze, has more international experience than Eze, and has no doubt a higher ceiling than Eze.
You can debate who’s good all night, but certainly the spur fell on top after Gibbs White and Eze’s hellish scene.
Statistically, Simons doesn’t blow eze out of the water, but he’s good.
In Squawka’s key per playmaking statistic of 90, former Crystal Palace’s favorite takes two of the 10 metrics and is jointly cooperative with assists around 90 (0.3). These two were shots of the target (1.1 v 1.0) and the take-on was completed (2.4 v 1.4).
Simons creates through touches of goal (0.5 v 0.3), potential created (2.1 v 2.0), pass accuracy (82.9%V 81.51%), ball (1.0V 0.4), Fouls Won (2.4V 1.8), ball recovery (5.4V 5.1), and opposing box (3.7V 3.6).
So, Simons’ leading statistics are mostly just slightly better, but they’re better…
However, football opinions should be determined by pitch, not paper, flashy spreadsheets or graphs.
What do you think? It sparks debate under the line…
And for the sake of the record, Simons was ahead of Eze with my available attack midfielder features. So, no, that’s not a knee-jerk opinion!
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