Thomas Frank outlines approach when speaking to Tottenham transfer targets after sealing Xavi Simons deal | OneFootball

Spurs missed out on a few targets before completing the signing of Xavi Simons

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Thomas Frank revealed he is “pretty direct” when talking to potential new signings, after Tottenham completed a deal of just over £51million for Xavi Simons.

The 22-year-old has arrived from RB Leipzig to end Spurs’ hunt for a No10, though the move was not wrapped up in time for him to feature against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Simons was believed to be open to joining Chelsea before Spurs moved quickly on Thursday to reach an agreement with Leipzig.

With the failed pursuits of other key targets this summer in mind, Frank was asked how he made certain over the phone that any incoming player was the right fit for Spurs.

“When I speak to them I’m pretty direct and honest in how I see the player,” Frank explained.

“Of course I want to sell the Tottenham project. But I’m always direct in terms of how I see their role and what we hopefully can make them to become. But also that it will be a fantastic journey, but also there can be ups and downs in that journey and there’s bits they need to work on.

“We go into that, then I sign off - I would like the player. But the player also needs to sign off to the project and the role.”

I’m always direct in terms of how I see their role

Thomas Frank

That evidently worked well with Simons, who spoke highly of Frank when explaining his decision to join Spurs.

"I think the most important thing, for me, is the coach,” Simons said.

Despite only being 22, Simons has experienced life at some of the biggest clubs. He came through the academy at Barcelona before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.

Simons will immediately be one of the highest-paid players at Spurs, but Frank is confident in the background work done by his team to ensure any new arrivals have the right character to fit in with the squad.

“We take massive references,” Frank said. “Massive.

“We’re big on it. On any player done in the past and we’ll do it the same.

“Of course there are some players who are like ten out of ten, perfect. Others are not ten out of ten but they can’t be too low, of course.

“But then you think with our culture, it will work anyway.”