Attacker keen to join Tottenham after talks with Frank, Levy ready to meet demands – report
The devastating news of James Maddison’s ACL rupture has forced Tottenham into urgent action, with the club scrambling to secure creative reinforcements before the new Premier League season begins.
The England international’s expected nine-month absence leaves a gaping hole in Thomas Frank’s attacking plans, compounded by Dejan Kulusevski’s ongoing recovery and Son Heung-min’s emotional departure to LAFC.
Thursday’s 4-0 preseason thrashing by Bayern Munich exposed Tottenham’s creative deficiencies, accelerating their search for Maddison’s replacement.
The performance starkly highlighted what the statistics already showed – Maddison and Son accounted for two of Spurs’ three highest-rated players last season (per WhoScored):
| Tottenham’s Top Performers 2024/25 | Avg Rating |
|---|---|
| Son Heung-min | 7.00 |
| James Maddison | 6.98 |
| Pedro Porro | 6.95 |
| Dominic Solanke | 6.84 |
| Dejan Kulusevski | 6.83 |
Frank has identified Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott as his preferred solution, with direct talks already occurring between manager and player.
The 22-year-old sees Tottenham as the ideal platform to secure regular minutes ahead of next year’s World Cup, while Frank envisions him as Maddison’s natural successor in the number 10 role.
Negotiations with Liverpool are progressing positively, with Spurs reportedly willing to meet the Reds’ £40 million valuation and accept a buy-back clause – a sensible concession given Elliott’s homegrown status and Champions League squad benefits.
However, Elliott isn’t Tottenham’s only target. The club has:
- Submitted a £35m bid for Como’s Nico Paz (rejected)
- Inquired about Manchester City’s Jack Grealish
- Maintained interest in RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo
The Paz pursuit demonstrates Tottenham’s commitment to securing both immediate solutions and long-term projects.
The 20-year-old Argentine, who registered 6 goals and 9 assists under Cesc Fàbregas last season, represents the type of high-upside gamble Daniel Levy has historically favored.
However, Como’s £60 million valuation makes Elliott’s proven Premier League quality appear increasingly attractive.
Financially, the impending £20 million from Son’s transfer provides some flexibility, though Spurs may need to offload additional players to fund multiple attacking signings.
The club’s hierarchy recognizes this window could define Frank’s tenure before it properly begins – fail to replace Maddison’s creativity and Son’s goals, and Tottenham risk slipping behind their top-four rivals.
Elliott’s potential arrival would address several needs simultaneously. His versatility across attacking midfield roles, existing Premier League experience, and room for growth make him an astute target.
As negotiations intensify, Tottenham fans will hope this proactive approach continues, with the club linked to increasingly ambitious names as the August deadline looms. One thing is certain – after Thursday’s sobering events in Munich, reinforcements can’t come soon enough.