He's bad news for Simons: Spurs have got a new "superstar" who's "like Son"

Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in a bit of a pickle. Planning ahead is difficult and uncertain, with there being no guarantee that Igor Tudor’s side will avoid the drop from the Premier League this season.

Such an eventuality would have been inconsiderable only a few weeks ago, even as Thomas Frank’s tenure ground to a stop, but Spurs are now ten games without a win in the top flight and find themselves four points ahead of West Ham United, who hold the final seat in the relegation zone but are only four points off their London rivals and are riding a far richer run of recent form.

Pound for pound, Tottenham have one of the stronger squads in the English top flight. Injuries have laid waste to coherence, of course, but the fit players at N17 are still struggling and need to raise their game quickly.

Chief among them would be Xavi Simons, who will continue to play a role this season but whose long-term place in the starting line-up is already under threat.

Why Simons is struggling for Spurs

You’d think that, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski both injured since last summer, Simons has the platform to grow into his skin as a high-profile playmaker in the Premier League.

He does have the platform, but he hasn’t found his feet.

The recent defeat against Fulham underscored Spurs’ toothless attacking play. The hosts took the spoils and avoided more than a nick in the form of Richarlison’s consolation strike, having been outfought and outclassed throughout.

The £52m signing from RB Leipzig didn’t last an hour, hooked for Richarlison after an abject display. The Brazilian forward, of course, scored, and Mathys Tel also impressed off the bench.

Simons was a real star in the Bundesliga, a class act with the world at his feet. The reality of Premier League football has clamped down on him like a vice, and ENIC Group would be understood if they were to consider a new creative midfielder this summer.

Xavi Simons in the Bundesliga
Stats (* per game)	23/24	24/25
Matches (starts)	32 (32)	25 (25)
Goals	8	10
Assists	11	7
Shots (on target)*	2.5 (1.0)	2.0 (0.9)
Touches*	62.6	68.0
Pass completion	82%	83%
Big chances created	14	12
Key passes*	2.5	2.0
Dribbles*	2.6	1.3
Ball recoveries*	5.2	5.1
Tackles + interceptions*	1.4	1.6
Duels won*	6.3	5.4

Tottenham need to make a change, but their options are slim right now. However, the club will have learned a lot from their recent errors, and as new playmaking routes are explored, the chiefs could find a prospect who has the potential to hamper Simons.

The Spurs youngster who could replace Simons

Tottenham have parted with some of their sharpest attackers in recent years without effectively replacing them. Harry Kane and Heung-min Son are the standouts there.

In particular, Son’s absense has been sorely missed since he left for LAFC last summer, and recruits such as Simons and Randal Kolo Muani have failed to fill the hole.

While there is little to be done but hope that Tudor’s side avoid relegation right now, in the future, Spurs could identify their new talisman in the form of Min-hyeok Yang, who has been at the club since last summer, spending the first half of the campaign out on loan with Portsmouth in the Championship before switching to title-chasing Coventry City in January.

Tottenham have many flaws, but they are prudent and effective when it comes to their academy system. A deal for Min-hyeok was agreed in 2024 and he has since developed into a promising young forward, hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig earlier in the season for being “on fire” with Pompey.

One Korean football expert has said that he is touted to become a “superstar like Son Heung-min“, and they share more than just an international allegiance. Indeed, Min-hyeok is one of the most exciting young wingers in the business, and like his iconic countryman, he is versatile and dynamic.

Min-hyeok Yang – Career Stats by Position
Position	Apps	Goals + Assists
Right winger	32	8 + 4
Left winger	21	5 + 4
Centre-forward	4	1 + 0

He hasn’t yet made his senior Tottenham debut, but this fast-paced rising star has so much potential, and if he secures a place in the first team next year, it could spell danger for Simons.

Of course, Simons isn’t so much of an out-and-out winger, but he’ll often drift wide and occupy roles on the left channel.

The South Korean would negatively impact him in that way, especially when Simons, 22, finds himself competing against Maddison and Kulusevski for central berths.

Ultimately, the rise of a talented young forward will only be a good thing for Spurs, but Simons should be operating at a much higher level, keeping him safe from the fear of such an emergence. Sadly, that hasn’t been the case this season.