Tottenham’s recent loss to Aston Villa over the weekend has reportedly exposed a growing concern surrounding summer signing Xavi Simons.

While manager Thomas Frank was visibly irritated at suggestions of “offensive problems,” his team’s lack of creativity in the final third has raised concerns.

The Dutch midfielder, signed for £52 million, has featured in eight games without scoring and has only one assist from a corner on his debut.

Despite Frank’s defence that Simons is “still adapting” to a new league and country, pundits suggest the playmaker’s impact remains below expectations.

Struggling to fit into Spurs’ system

Simons has looked out of sync with Tottenham’s tactical setup. Stationed high up the pitch in the No. 10 role, he’s been peripheral for long stretches, often bypassed as Spurs channel most of their attacks down the flanks.

Frank’s preference for wing-based play limits Simons’ influence, leaving him reliant on service that rarely arrives through central channels.

His best moments so far have come off the ball, pressing, tackling and showing aggression, but those flashes have done very little to mask the creative void he was signed to fill.

Confidence on the decline

Since his impressive cameo against Brighton, where he took three shots in 30 minutes, Simons has failed to register a single attempt in three consecutive starts.

His reluctance to take risks and increasing tendency to play safe passes suggest a dip in confidence.

With Lucas Bergvall waiting in the wings and showing more willingness to drive play forward, Simons could soon face a spell on the bench if his form doesn’t improve.

A problem that needs solving

Frank insists Simons “will be good for us,” but the longer this adaptation period drags on, the more the signing feels like a tactical mismatch.