Bayern chief pushed for Xavi Simons as summer clashes revealed

Xavi Simons’ arrival at Tottenham was one of the most dramatic late-window moves of the summer — and new reporting from Germany suggests the Dutchman’s transfer may have caused major internal conflict at Bayern Munich. According to SportBILD, Bayern’s director of sport Max Eberl pushed strongly to sign Simons, leading to what the publication described as “serious clashes” with figures at the very top of the club’s hierarchy.

Simons eventually joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig in a big-money deal, ending months of speculation linking him with Chelsea, Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain. His move to north London was seen as a coup for Spurs at the time, though his adjustment to Premier League football has taken longer than expected.

But behind the scenes in Munich, Simons’ situation appears to have created deep friction. SportBILD report that Eberl was so intent on bringing the playmaker to Bavaria that he clashed with Bayern president Herbert Hainer, honorary president Uli Hoeneß and board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge during strategy meetings.

During one heated exchange, Eberl is said to have stood up and challenged the club’s leadership directly: “If you don’t trust my approach, tell me – or let me continue!” The confrontation reportedly won him respect but not the signing he wanted.

Simons went to Tottenham; Bayern turned elsewhere. Yet the report claims Eberl remains an admirer and is paying close attention to the 20-year-old’s development in London.

After a quiet start under Thomas Frank, Simons has begun to show signs of the player who lit up the Bundesliga last season. His performances in Tottenham’s last two matches — both wins — have featured flashes of the sharp dribbling, quick combinations and end-product that made him such a sought-after signing.

Spurs staff see a player gradually adapting to England’s physical demands. The club view the last fortnight as evidence that he is beginning to trust his instincts again, having struggled at times to impose himself earlier in the campaign.

Whether he has fully settled, however, remains too early to say. Simons has played 20 matches, scoring 2 goals and providing 3 assists so far — respectable numbers, though short of the explosive output Bayern hoped to harness during the summer.

He will have another chance to showcase his growing form when Spurs travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Bayern’s internal conflict over Simons highlights how highly rated he remains across Europe. Eberl has long favoured dynamic, multi-functional attackers capable of playing between the lines — a profile Simons fits perfectly. The fact that the director of sport pushed so aggressively for him indicates Bayern saw him as a foundation piece rather than a luxury signing.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are beginning to see why. Having observed Simons across his Leipzig and PSV spells, the most important element of his game is rhythm — once he strings together consistent performances, the end-product usually follows. His last two matches suggest that process is beginning.

For Spurs, patience is key. For Bayern, curiosity lingers. And for Simons, the challenge now is to turn flashes into a run of form that validates both Tottenham’s investment and Eberl’s long-standing pursuit.

Even though Spurs won the race in the summer, Bayern’s recruitment plans for 2026 and beyond may still include Simons. Eberl’s admiration, public or not, hasn’t diminished — and players who slip through Bayern’s grasp rarely leave their radar entirely.

If Simons becomes a Premier League standout, his name is almost certain to reappear in German reports.

Tottenham travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, where Simons will aim to build on his recent momentum and further cement his place in Thomas Frank’s evolving system.

👉 Spurs fans — is Xavi Simons finally showing what you expected when he arrived?