Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer window has suffered a double setback. The club appears set to miss out on Xavi Simons after failing to secure Morgan Gibbs-White. Spurs’ prolonged pursuit of Gibbs-White ultimately proved unsuccessful after the player signed a new contract with Nottingham Forest. As a result, Chelsea have moved ahead in the race for Simons.
Spurs had identified Gibbs-White as a key target. The club even triggered his release clause after weeks of negotiations. This pursuit seemingly led them to cool their interest in other options.
Spurs’ interest in Gibbs-White ends in frustration
Reports indicate that Tottenham were once the frontrunners for Xavi Simons. Some sources even suggested initial talks had taken place. However, Spurs’ focus shifted entirely to Gibbs-White, creating an opening for Chelsea.
Now, Chelsea are reportedly in advanced talks to sign the Dutch international. Fabrizio Romano and other journalists claim negotiations are progressing positively. The 21-year-old winger is also said to be keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea close in on Xavi Simons after Spurs delay
Sebastien Vidal reports that Chelsea are “closing in” on Simons. This represents a significant blow to Tottenham’s recruitment plans. In contrast, Bayern Munich are also expected to miss out on the RB Leipzig star.
Over recent weeks, many Spurs fans urged the club to abandon the Gibbs-White pursuit. They believed Spurs should have focused on alternative targets, such as Simons. The hope was that a more decisive approach would have secured a key signing.
Missed opportunities in the transfer market for Tottenham
Tottenham’s persistence with Gibbs-White proved costly. This strategy was partly driven by manager Thomas Frank’s admiration for the player. However, this single-minded approach has backfired, with Simons now seemingly heading to a London rival.
Ultimately, Tottenham’s delay in pursuing other options has left them empty-handed. The club must now reassess their transfer strategy. They need to act swiftly to secure reinforcements before the window closes. The focus must now shift to identifying realistic and attainable targets. These players need to strengthen the squad for the upcoming season.