Spurs Suffered Loss of James Madison by Year's End
Tottenham Hotspur Seek Replacement for Injured James Maddison
Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in a race against time to find a suitable replacement for their creative force, James Maddison, who is set to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season due to an ACL injury. The transfer window is approaching its closing time, and the club is weighing several options.
James Maddison, who joined Tottenham Hotspur from Leicester City in the summer of 2023 for €46 million, was a key figure in the team's Europa League-2024/25 triumph. Over two seasons in London, he played 75 matches, scoring 16 goals and providing 21 assists. The injury occurred during a friendly match against Newcastle. Maddison will undergo surgery and begin his rehabilitation process.
Several potential replacement options have emerged for Tottenham Hotspur. Among them is James McAtee, the 22-year-old England U21 captain, who is considered a standout candidate to fill the void left by Maddison. Although close to a deal with Nottingham Forest, McAtee remains a prime target for Spurs if they decide to invest in the transfer market.
Another option is Pape Matar Sarr, who has been playing a more forward and pivotal role in preseason for Tottenham. Although not a traditional No.10 like Maddison, Sarr offers energy, confidence, and goal-scoring ability and could be a more in-house solution if Spurs avoid big spending.
Nico Paz from Como is another name on Tottenham's list, but a deal could be complicated by Real Madrid’s buy-back clause on the player. Bilal El Khannouss, recently relegated with Leicester City, is another potential signing, although he is not at the same level as Maddison or the initially targeted Morgan Gibbs-White.
The club's decision may depend on chairman Daniel Levy's willingness to increase spending, with suggestions that Sarr might be the fallback option if budgets remain tight. However, the transfer market is active, with notable moves such as Doan's move to Eintracht, Rogers' potential move to Chelsea, and Manchester United's interest in Sheško. Chelsea is reportedly willing to spend £80 million for Aston Villa's rising star, Rogers, indicating a potential high-value transfer. Manchester United has shown interest in Sheško, suggesting a possible transfer negotiation.
Eintracht has made a significant transfer investment with the acquisition of Doan, while Tottenham Hotspur's search for a replacement for Maddison could be impacted by these and other transfer activities of other clubs. The club will need to act swiftly to secure the services of a suitable replacement before the transfer window closes.
In light of Tottenham Hotspur's search for a replacement for James Maddison, several European-leagues' bookmakers have suggested James McAtee as a standout candidate to fill the void, given his potential move from Nottingham Forest remains in question. Pape Matar Sarr, who has been playing a more forward and pivotal role in preseason for Tottenham, also emerges as a viable in-house option for the club.
