Thomas Frank is set to be without star playmaker James Maddison for the foreseeable future, with Tottenham confirming on Thursday morning that the Englishman is set to undergo surgery on a ruptured ACL.
It was solely meant to be a night of farewell glory for club legend Son Heung-min last Sunday, but Tottenham’s fireworks fizzled into despair when Maddison collapsed in agony just minutes after stepping onto the pitch in Seoul.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Maddison’s right knee – the same one that kept him out of the Europa League final – let him down once again. One moment he was chasing the ball, the next he was on the ground, clutching his face in disbelief. A stretcher carried him off as crutches awaited outside – with Frank describing the injury as a “bad” one.
The worst was yet to come, though, as Spurs have now announced that Maddison is set for surgery on an ACL problem which could force him to miss the vast majority of the season.
The 28-year-old is staring down the barrel of a six-to-nine-month recovery period, as is usually the case with ACL ruptures.
It’s heartbreak, pure and simple. Tottenham, already shaken by Son’s exit, now face a long season without the talent, vision and creativity of their star number 10. If they needed a new attacking midfielder before, they certainly need one now.
Chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange have undoubtedly shot the signing of a playmaker to the very top of their transfer priority list, coming after they missed out on a deal for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White earlier this summer.
Spurs booked a medical for Gibbs-White this time last month ahead of a proposed £60 million move before Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, unceremoniously stopped the transfer, threatened Frank’s side with legal action and persuaded the 25-year-old to pen a new deal.
A swoop for Gibbs-White is completely off the table, but Tottenham’s need for another creative presence is more vital than ever before.
Dejan Kulusevski is also still sidelined with a knee injury, and having also lost Son, Spurs must get to work on Maddison’s replacement with just weeks to go before the transfer deadline.
Tottenham offered AC Milan forward Rafael Leao after James Maddison injury
According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, intermediaries recently floated AC Milan forward Rafael Leao in their direction, which happened in the aftermath of Son’s exit and Maddison’s injury blow.
However, while Tottenham have been offered Leao by these representatives, it is believed a move for the Portugal international, who’s been called “unstoppable” by Tammy Abraham, and valued at around £74 million by the Rossoneri, is unlikely as things stand.
“My understanding is that intermediaries on the back of Son’s transfer and Maddison’s injury have put Leao to Spurs, in theory,” said Bailey.
“Opportunistic, yes, but that is how some of the biggest deals in the world have come about.
“I am told that [Massimilano] Allegri has informed Milan’s hierarchy that he can turn Leao into one of the very best forwards in the world. They are not planning on losing him, and I don’t believe Leao has the wish to leave at this point; he is excited by Allegri.”
The opportunity to play Premier League football is always a temptation, but given Leao’s current stance, Allegri’s unwillingness to part company and the 26-year-old’s asking price, Levy will likely need to look elsewhere.
Tottenham have made recent contact over Jack Grealish, but face competition from Everton (Fabrizio Romano), while Harvey Elliott has also been named as a potential Spurs target amid discussions over a move to RB Leipzig (Florian Plettenberg).
Their options are growing thin, but Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze could be available for the taking as Arsenal continue to stall a potential deal.