AliousTottenham Hotspur are facing a battle to stay in the Premier League this season, but their survival hopes have been dealt a major blow following a setback to Mohammed Kudus during his recovery from injury.
The Ghana international has not played since January due to a quadriceps issue. Although he had recently resumed first-team training and was closing in on a return—potentially giving new manager Roberto De Zerbi a timely boost—he has now suffered a recurrence. The 25-year-old could require surgery, which may rule him out for the remainder of the season and even this summer’s World Cup.
De Zerbi Forced to Look Elsewhere
After signing a five-year deal in north London, De Zerbi has just seven matches to secure Spurs’ top-flight status before turning his attention to a summer rebuild.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion boss is a known admirer of Kudus, having previously attempted to sign him, and would have hoped his return could inspire the team in the closing weeks of the campaign.
However, injuries have plagued the squad. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have both missed the entire season with serious knee problems and are not expected back before it concludes. Meanwhile, winger Wilson Odobert remains sidelined long-term with an ACL injury.
With Kudus now also unavailable, De Zerbi must find an alternative solution—and there appears to be a clear candidate within the squad to step up as the team’s creative leader.
Time to Unleash Xavi Simons
Big-money summer signing Xavi Simons arrived with high expectations but initially struggled to adjust to English football.
The 22-year-old—once dubbed a “magician”—has recorded four goals and five assists across all competitions this season. Notably, he scored twice in a recent Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid, only to be surprisingly dropped by Igor Tudor for the following Premier League match.
Despite inconsistency, Simons’ talent is unquestionable. He has already showcased his quality with the Netherlands and at RB Leipzig earlier in his career. Now, with Spurs fighting for survival, De Zerbi may have little choice but to place his trust in the young playmaker—handing him the responsibility to drive the team forward and help steer them away from relegation.
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