Tottenham Xavi Simons transfer deadline clear for Bournemouth clash amid £51m move

Tottenham Hotspur were in a race against time to register Xavi Simons for this weekend’s Premier League game against AFC Bournemouth.

Spurs are closing in on move for the RB Leipzig man, having overtaken rivals Chelsea in the transfer race.

It’s reported that a €60 million (£51m) fee has been agreed between the two clubs and the player has already undergone his medical and put pen-to-paper on the relevant paperwork.

Spurs have been on the lookout for a new attacking midfielder for the majority of the summer. A long-term injury to James Maddison during pre-season made the need greater.

They missed out on transfers for Morgan Gibbs-White, who is staying at Nottingham Forest, and Eberechi Eze, who has completed a move from Crystal Palace to Arsenal.

But they now appear to be closing in on Simons after making their move.

Spurs are back in Premier League action on Saturday afternoon (3pm) when they take on AFC Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

If Simons will be available for that game depends on if Spurs beat a deadline set by the Premier League.

Rule U.23 of the Premier League handbook states that the registration of a player "shall be 12 noon on the last working day before the date of the first league match in which the club making the application intends him to play..”

Therefore, Simons will have to have been registered by 12pm today (Friday), if Spurs wish for him to be involved against AFC Bournemouth tomorrow. It is still to be seen if that deadline has been beaten.

Having not trained with his new teammates it’s very unlikely that even if Spurs do beat the deadline, Thomas Frank will name him the starting XI against Bournemouth.

At most, Simons will be on the bench and could make a cameo in the second half.

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