Credit: Imago

Harri Burton

Sun 3 May 2026 8:15, UK

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Xavi Simons is unlikely to be going anywhere this summer after suffering a “disastrous” injury in Tottenham Hotspur‘s win over Wolves.

That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider, while the player will undoubtedly have a relegation clause, his injury will put any clubs off his signature.

Spurs’ 1-0 win at Molineux was massively overshadowed by the 23-year-old’s setback, with the club confirming that the player will require surgery before undergoing rehabilitation.

The attacking midfielder joins several big-name players already on the treatment table, and there does not appear to be any way out for either the player or the club when it comes to his future.

Simons could be about to cost Tottenham millions.

Tottenham have no escape as Xavi Simons suffers ‘disastrous’ setback

The Lilywhites are still at serious risk of relegation this season, despite the narrow win at Molineux Stadium, and a drop to the Championship could have dire consequences in North London.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “I think we need to take some of that with a pinch of salt. Most of the players do have a relegation clause, and that is their standard policy.

“It’s hard to see how one player would have been carved out of that. Now, if he has,
then it’s a very difficult situation for them. It’s also a difficult situation for the player if he does have a relegation clause because he’s stuck.

“He’s not going to play any meaningful part, probably, of even next season. As we all know, an ACL is not just the recovery period to actually get back, but it’s also about being effective. You’re not effective really until three to six months after.

“So the likelihood is he’s unsellable. It’s effectively going to be a very expensive exercise for Spurs next season. And for the player, disastrous, obviously. It’s cruel timing and disastrous.

“But I don’t see any way around it for Spurs themselves because nobody’s going to buy him. Let’s be
realistic. So they’re stuck, and they’ll have to pay his wages and have to pay his recovery.”

How Spurs can save millions on wages after relegation

Supporters are already afraid of what could happen on the pitch should the Lilywhites be relegated to the Championship this season, especially when it comes to the bigger names in the squad.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said that if Tottenham’s top five earners were to leave, £145million could be saved on player wages, which would make a huge difference next term.

Both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are expected to depart North London, and that is just likely to be the first and second of multiple stars being sold.

That is the reality of not performing well enough in the Premier League, however. Relegation comes hand-in-hand with financial difficulty, proven by many who have failed to stake their place in the top tier of English football.