August 09, (THEWILL) — Tottenham Hotspur face a significant setback after manager Thomas Frank confirmed the club will enter the transfer market to replace injured playmaker James Maddison.
The England international sustained a serious knee injury during a pre-season match against Newcastle in Seoul, leaving the north London club scrambling to reinforce their midfield before the new campaign commences.
Medical staff at Tottenham have diagnosed Maddison with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, necessitating surgery that will likely keep him sidelined for approximately nine months.
The 26-year-old, who has been instrumental in Tottenham’s attacking setup since his arrival, faces an extended rehabilitation period that will see him miss the majority of the 2025/2026 season, including crucial English Premier League fixtures and European competitions.
The North London club’s preparations have been further complicated by a disappointing 4-0 defeat against Bayern Munich in their most recent friendly, where the absence of creative midfield influence was apparent.
Tottenham now face a challenging schedule that begins with the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain next Wednesday, followed by their EPL opener against Burnley just three days later.
“We are definitely in the market in general,” Frank stated when addressing the media.
He added, “Of course, when players get a long-term injury we need to look into that, but generally we are in the market, yes. If we think we can find the right one, one who can improve the team, then he will be signed. If we can’t, then not.”
Despite these injury concerns, Frank offered encouraging updates on other key players, expressing confidence that striker Dominic Solanke will return soon despite missing the Bayern defeat.
The manager also confirmed that defender Destiny Udogie is nearing recovery, providing some relief for supporters who have watched their squad depleted before the season has even begun.
“I’m not worried. We’ll know more info in a couple of days,” Frank added regarding Udogie’s condition.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
