Tottenham Hotspur, managed by Roberto De Zerbi, suffered a significant blow in their battle to stay in the Premier League on Saturday.
A last-gasp winner for West Ham United against Everton kept Spurs rooted in the relegation zone, preventing them from closing the gap on 17th place. The situation was further compounded by fresh injury concerns, with both Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke forced off during their 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Solanke was substituted in the 40th minute due to a muscular problem, though De Zerbi later downplayed the severity, suggesting it may not keep him out for long without confirming a timeline for his return.
Simons’ injury, however, appears more serious. The Netherlands international had to be stretchered off in the second half with a knee issue, leaving the club awaiting further assessment as the season enters its final stages.
After the match, De Zerbi admitted he was unable to give a definitive update on Simons due to how recent the injury was. The timing is particularly unfortunate, coming just a week after the £52 million signing from RB Leipzig scored a brilliant goal against Brighton & Hove Albion.
With Simons potentially sidelined, attention could turn to James Maddison as a leading option to step into the attacking midfield role. His Premier League numbers highlight his impact, ranking among the top attacking midfielders for goals, expected goals, assists, and chance creation on a per-90 basis.
