Maddison Out for the Season, Have Spurs Got Enough Cover?

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·7. August 2025

Maddison Out for the Season, Have Spurs Got Enough Cover?

Maddison’s ACL Blow – Should Spurs Search for a Replacement?

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a brutal pre-season blow. James Maddison – arguably the creative heartbeat of Ange Postecoglou’s system – has suffered a ruptured ACL in his right knee and will now face months on the sidelines.

The injury, sustained during Spurs’ pre-season clash against Newcastle in Seoul, could sideline Maddison for most, if not all, of the 2025/26 campaign. At 28, the midfielder was entering what should be his prime, and after a mixed debut season disrupted by ankle trouble, he was expected to be a central figure this time around. Now, Postecoglou faces a pressing question: does he trust the squad depth, or return to the market for a like-for-like replacement?

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Maddison’s Importance

When fit, Maddison was pivotal. In his first 10 Premier League matches last season, he registered 3 goals and 5 assists – the kind of numbers that make him one of the most productive attacking midfielders in the country. His ability to float between the lines, dictate tempo and deliver in the final third is not easily replicated.

Postecoglou’s attacking system relies on progressive midfielders who can create overloads and unlock defences. Maddison ticked every box, offering both technical finesse and leadership on the pitch.

Internal Options: Enough to Cope?

With the window ticking down, Spurs do have some in-house solutions – though none quite match Maddison’s profile.

Giovani Lo Celso has impressed in patches during pre-season, but consistency and fitness have always been concerns. Could this be his final opportunity to resurrect his Spurs career?
Rodrigo Bentancur, while more of a box-to-box presence, might be given greater creative license, though his own injury history makes it a gamble.
Pape Matar Sarr and Oliver Skipp offer energy but lack the incision and vision Maddison brings.
Youngster Mikey Moore, tipped for a breakout year, is still raw.

It’s a patchwork solution that risks undermining the rhythm Postecoglou’s system demands.

Missing Out on Gibbs-White a Blow?

Tottenham were previously linked with Morgan Gibbs-White, but missed out earlier this window. The Nottingham Forest man would have been a near-perfect fit – press-resistant, inventive, and homegrown. His stock will only rise now, and Forest’s asking price won’t drop anytime soon.

There were also tentative links to players like Eberechi Eze and Lucas Paquetá, but the former has re-committed to Crystal Palace, and the latter is embroiled in an FA betting investigation.

Should Spurs Go Back into the Market?

Yes – and quickly. With Champions League football returning to N17 and expectations high after a promising rebuild under Postecoglou, standing still isn’t an option. Losing Maddison is not just a blow to creativity, it’s a loss of experience and leadership.

Names like Daichi Kamada (free agent), Nicolo Zaniolo (on loan at Galatasaray), or even an ambitious move for Dominik Szoboszlai, if there’s the will, could be explored. Spurs also have the financial muscle after a quiet start to the window, and fans will expect action.

Final Word

ACL injuries are cruel, and Maddison now faces a long and lonely road to recovery. For Tottenham, it’s about more than replacing a player – it’s preserving momentum and ambition. With just under a month until the window closes, Daniel Levy and Ange Postecoglou have a big decision to make.

If Spurs want to build on last season’s promise and compete across four competitions, a new creative midfielder is not just desirable – it’s essential.