Premier League
Tottenham’s Summer Statement: Xavi Simons and a Clear Creative Plan
Simons’ £51.8m move gives Tottenham a marketable, creative spark capable of changing their attack. .
Tottenham’s late-window capture of Xavi Simons felt like the conclusion of a hectic transfer saga and the start of a different approach. The club completed a £51.8 million ($70 million) deal for a 22-year-old who arrived with a high profile from early youth days at La Masia.
Simons was already widely known long before his senior breakthrough. He had a million Instagram followers and a Nike deal by the time he was 14, developing a reputation as the “boy with golden curls”. His senior path has taken him to Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig and included a hugely successful loan at PSV Eindhoven. He can speak six languages and has recorded 63 goal contributions over the past three seasons.
The move came after a summer in which Tottenham showed clear ambition. The club opened business with West Ham United over Mohammed Kudus and pursued Forest captain Gibbs-White, only for Evangelos Marinakis to keep his skipper at the City Ground. Arsenal’s move for Eze under Daniel Levy’s nose, and the collapse of other targets, left Thomas Frank with a creative void after James Maddison’s ACL tear in Seoul and Dejan Kulusevski’s expected absence until the new year.
Chelsea were reported as rivals for Simons, a reminder of how often the Blues have targeted high-profile talent. The draft also recalled earlier Chelsea swings for Eden Hazard and Willian that Tottenham failed to convert. Still, BlueCo’s market activity allowed Spurs to sign Simons, a player who can be both a marketable face and a footballing solution.
Frank will ask Simons to add invention and unpredictability to an attack that has relied on Pape Matar Sarr’s pressing and Kudus’s ball retention. Simons is not an elite athlete, but he excels in transition and tight spaces and the manager has said he can “unlock defences”. The player himself sees the move as right for his development, calling Frank the “right coach” to advance a game defined by moments of magic.
For supporters, Simons’ unveiling offered a rare sense of uplift: a talent of this profile rarely ends up at Tottenham, and the club will now expect him to deliver both on and off the pitch.
Arsenal
Saliba Returns to Training as Arsenal Weigh Inclusion for Forest Clash
Saliba back in training; Arteta faces a selection call as Arsenal ready for Nottingham Forest visit.
Arsenal received a boost on Friday when manager Mikel Arteta confirmed William Saliba is back in training ahead of the match against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium. A previous report had suggested the 24-year-old could be sidelined for up to a month, but Arteta moved to clarify the situation after Friday’s session.
“Wilo trained today, so we’ll have a decision to make whether we play him or not, it’s very good news,” Arteta confirmed. The manager also confirmed Piero Hincapié is available after only two days’ work with the squad, giving Arteta additional defensive options as he assesses his starting line-up.
Forest travel to the Emirates with Ange Postecoglou installed as manager following Nuno Espírito Santo’s sudden dismissal. The Australian has signed an 18-month contract at the City Ground. The club will balance that transition with a notable absence of their own. Starting right back Ola Aina is expected to miss up to three months after sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty.
Arsenal appear to have avoided any fresh issues stemming from the recent two-week break, though they will continue without Bukayo Saka for the immediate future. On his winger, Arteta said: “Let’s see, he’s evolving really well, with very specific work at the moment,” Arteta said of his star winger. “The moment that we increase that load, let’s see how he reacts.”
Additional squad news offered further cautious optimism for Arsenal. Ben White has returned to training, while Kai Havertz is progressing towards a return to action after undergoing knee surgery. With Saliba training and other defensive options available, Arteta faces a selection call that will influence how the home side lines up against a Forest side under new management.
Liverpool
How a Proposed Swap Between Luis Díaz and Julián Alvarez Fell Apart in 2024
Report: Díaz sought move to Manchester City in summer 2024; Liverpool proposed Alvarez swap. Updates
Luis Díaz’s preference to leave Liverpool in the summer of 2024 was reportedly clear to the club’s recruitment team. The Telegraph claim he wanted a move to Manchester City before the 2024–25 season. Liverpool’s newly formed transfer department, led by Fenway Sports Group’s chief executive Michael Edwards alongside sporting director Richard Hughes and manager Arne Slot, were made aware of his intentions.
According to the report, Liverpool were prepared to accommodate Díaz’s request and tabled a swap offer that would have sent him to Manchester City in exchange for Julián Alvarez. City officials rejected the proposal, refusing to do business that might strengthen a rival. Liverpool then withdrew the offer and the swap was removed from consideration.
Díaz remained at Liverpool for a further 12 months before moving on. Alvarez was allowed to leave the Etihad Stadium weeks later in a deal worth £81.5 million to Atlético Madrid. In his debut campaign at Atlético Madrid the 25-year-old scored 29 goals and contributed eight assists.
The report highlights how the failed swap had wider implications. Had Liverpool acquired Alvarez, the club would have recruited an elite striker 12 months ahead of schedule. Instead, Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak in the following summer transfer window, deals that together exceeded £200 million, with Isak’s transfer a British record £125 million.
Luis Díaz has since moved on and is enjoying a strong start to life with Bayern. He has two goals and two assists in his first two Bundesliga games. The sequence of events underlines the cascading effects of a single transfer negotiation and how one rejected swap reshaped recruitment choices for both clubs involved.
Manchester United
Amorim keeps Altay in goal as United face derby with limited options
Altay will start the derby; Cunha, Mount and Dalot are unavailable as Amorim addresses squad issues.
Ruben Amorim has confirmed Altay Bayındır will remain Manchester United’s starting goalkeeper for Sunday’s derby against Manchester City.
Amorim described the choice as a pragmatic one that balances immediate demands with longer term planning. Contributing to Onana’s decision to leave was the summer arrival of Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth £18.2 million ($24.7 million). Hopes are incredibly high for the 23-year-old but Amorim is prepared to be patient when it comes to his involvement in the team.
“Altay is going to continue,” Amorim told his pre-match press conference. “It is a different league, different country, different ball. I know that we are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience.
“It is a different league, different country, different ball. I know that we are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience.
“We are also in the moment that we have to look at the present, but also with a focus on the future. [Lammens] is a guy with great potential, that is one more option to play. We believe a lot in our goalkeepers. I believe in Altay. He’s ready to play.”
Amorim also confirmed United will be short in attack for the fixture. Matheus Cunha has not recovered since being forced off against Burnley before the international break, and Mason Mount is also unavailable after picking up an injury in the same game. Right back Diogo Dalot has been sent home from Portugal duty with a muscle injury and joins the treatment room.
“They are out for this game,” Amorim confessed. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take. We need those guys to be a very, very competitive team. We have very good players that are eager to play. So we will be competitive on Sunday.
“I don’t want to say [how long] because if you talk with Cunha, if you catch Cunha outside, he will say that he can play this game. So I don’t know. We will manage day by day. But they are pushing really hard.”
