Report: ‘Phenomenal’ star wants £200,000-a-week to join Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur are pushing ahead with their efforts to land RB Leipzig’s highly-rated playmaker Xavi Simons before the close of the transfer window, but negotiations could prove complicated due to the Dutchman’s sizeable wage demands.
According to reports from The Sun, Spurs have tabled a formal offer worth around £61 million for the 22-year-old, who is currently in London as discussions over his future intensify. While the move represents a major statement of intent from the north London club, the deal hinges on whether Tottenham are willing to meet Simons’ request for a contract worth in the region of £200,000 per week.
Such a figure would see Simons instantly become Tottenham’s highest-paid player, leapfrogging current top earner Cristian Romero, who recently signed a lucrative new deal believed to be worth £195,000-a-week under Thomas Frank’s management. Other senior players such as James Maddison, Joao Palhinha, and Dejan Kulusevski are all understood to earn salaries in excess of £100,000-a-week, though still some distance from the wage level that Simons is reportedly demanding.
If the estimates by Capology are accurate, the talented Dutchman currently earns around £165,000-a-week in Germany, meaning a switch to Tottenham would come with a 25 percent pay rise—a figure that underlines his growing reputation as one of Europe’s most in-demand young attackers. Leipzig, meanwhile, have confirmed via German outlet BILD that Simons has been “released until further notice for future discussions,” paving the way for negotiations with interested clubs. His arrival in London has now put Spurs in pole position to finalise a deal, despite rival interest from Chelsea, who have also monitored the player closely throughout the summer.
Tottenham’s determination to secure Simons comes after a frustrating window in their search for a new creative midfielder. Earlier in the summer, the club thought they had secured a move for Morgan Gibbs-White, even triggering his £60 million release clause, only for Nottingham Forest to accuse Spurs of making an illegal approach. Gibbs-White later committed his future to Forest by signing a new contract at the City Ground. Spurs also came close to signing Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, only for bitter rivals Arsenal to hijack the deal at the last minute.
These setbacks, coupled with the devastating blow of James Maddison’s long-term knee injury during pre-season, have left Tottenham desperate to bring in a top-class creative force before the deadline. Simons ticks every box. At just 22 years old, he already boasts 137 senior club appearances, including 22 matches in European competitions across spells with PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig. His formative years at Paris Saint-Germain exposed him to elite-level football from a young age, and his subsequent development in the Bundesliga has sharpened his technical and tactical game.
Internationally, Simons has also established himself as a regular for the Netherlands national team, further underlining his pedigree. His dynamism, versatility across attacking midfield roles, and proven ability to perform under pressure would make him a transformative signing for Spurs.
For Tottenham, securing Simons would not only address their immediate need for creativity but also reinforce the team’s ambitions under Thomas Frank. The club has started the Premier League season in strong form, and adding a player of Simons’ calibre could provide the spark needed to sustain that momentum while ensuring Spurs remain competitive both domestically and in Europe.
The coming days will be decisive. With Simons in London and talks advancing, the spotlight is firmly on Tottenham to see whether they can meet his demands and finally land the marquee signing that supporters have been craving all summer.