Xavi Simons could be set for a new role if Tottenham Hotspur land Arda Guler
Tottenham Hotspur maintain a keen interest in Arda Guler, the 20-year-old Turkish midfielder from Real Madrid as his position under manager Xabi Alonso remains precarious. Despite an encouraging start to the 2025-26 season, with three goals and four assists in 10 appearances, Guler lacks a guaranteed starting berth in his preferred central attacking midfield role.
Alonso’s tactical changes, particularly between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2 formation, place Guler at risk of reduced opportunities. The imminent return of Jude Bellingham just enhances this uncertainty, as established players such as Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde appear unlikely to stand displaced. While rotations will afford Guler continued minutes, his involvement in high-stakes fixtures will prove decisive for his long-term prospects at the Bernabeu.
Newcastle, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Tottenham and Arsenal all show interest. But according to Spanish publication Grada, only the Londoners have the financial pull to take this through.
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Guler to N17?
Tottenham view this uncertainty as an opportunity. Their current squad is strong, sitting second in the Premier League with one of the best defensive records in the division, but creativity from midfield remains an area that could be strengthened. Guler’s style suits Thomas Frank’s approach, which relies on quick transitions, intelligent positioning, and fluid build-up play. His passing range and close control would give Spurs another outlet when breaking stubborn defences.
Xavi Simons could be set for a new role if Tottenham Hotspur land Arda Guler.
Arda Guler update as Spurs keen on landing Turkish superstar from Madrid.
Adding him would also provide better balance for a schedule packed with Premier League, domestic cups, and Europa League commitments. At present, the creative burden falls heavily on a small group of players. Guler’s presence would allow for smarter rotation, easing the load and reducing the chance of burnout or injury in the second half of the season.
The attacking midfield role is where the domino effect would be most noticeable. James Maddison will own it as and when he’s back from injury. His set-piece delivery and vision are central to Frank’s plan, but Guler’s versatility would allow Maddison to drop slightly deeper when required. This would create new patterns in possession while giving Spurs more control in transition. For Xavi Simons, signed from Paris Saint-Germain over the summer, competition would stiffen.
If Guler arrives, Simons may be pushed further from the central role he prefers. That pressure could either trigger an improvement or reduce his minutes, but in any case, it would either raise the overall standard, or ensure one of these lads moves on from Spurs in another year.