7 hours ago
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The Tottenham Hotspur fans will get their first glimpse of Xavi Simons on Saturday even if Thomas Frank cannot select the £52million new signing yet.
Spurs snapped up the 22-year-old from RB Leipzig on Friday on a five-year contract with an option for another two and the Dutchman will bring creativity and guile to Frank's side in either a central attacking midfield role or down the left. However, the Tottenham head coach cannot call on Simons just yet.
That's because the former PSG man signed after the deadline to register for the game against the Cherries and is also awaiting his work permit anyway. Simons is however expected to be present at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday to be unveiled in an appearance on the pitch for his new fans.
As for Frank's team to face Andoni Iraola's men, the Tottenham head coach has continually surprised the supporters so far with tweaks and changes in personnel. When everyone expected him to play a certain way at Manchester City with a back five instead he went with a back four as his team nailed the game plan perfectly at the Etihad Stadium.
While he could bring in Wilson Odobert to add something different or Lucas Bergvall in the number 10 role, it would be difficult to justify dropping Pape Matar Sarr, who was brilliant against City, or Brennan Johnson, who has now scored in back-to-back games in the opening weeks of the season.
Likewise there could be a temptation to give Dominic Solanke his first start of the season up front, but Richarlison has been excellent so far this season. Destiny Udogie has also been back in training for a week now but Djed Spence has done more than enough to keep his place at left-back and earned himself his first England call-up.
Here's the team we reckon Frank will select to face the Cherries:
4-2-3-1: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur; Kudus, Sarr, Johnson; Richarlison.
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