Thomas Frank, Tottenham's manager, described Maddison's bad luck as "brutal," especially considering it's a World Cup year. The team has already experienced many injuries last season, which contributed to their slide down the Premier League. Frank will be hoping that history doesn't repeat itself.
To address Maddison's absence, a plan needs to be drawn up quickly, either before the first game against Burnley or before the transfer window closes. The team may look for a replacement within the club or buy one from another team. However, there isn't anyone at Tottenham with Maddison's particular skill set, and it's unclear if the club's chairman, Daniel Levy, will approve further spending this summer.
Assuming Levy keeps a tight hold on the purse strings, Frank may look to Pape Sarr to provide something different. Sarr has been playing a more pivotal forward role in pre-season, scoring an impressive long-range effort against Arsenal. Chris Waddle, a Spurs legend, believes Sarr could be the answer to the club's prayers.
"Pape Matar Sarr has had a great preseason with his energy levels, and I could see him playing behind the striker," Waddle said. "He's scoring goals at the minute, he's confident, he's got great energy, he can run off the ball very, very well, and he's quite intelligent at that."
Another option is James McAtee, the England U21 captain. He's close to a deal with Nottingham Forest but has the natural ability to fill the void Maddison's injury has created. McAtee played 15 Premier League games for Manchester City last season, scoring three goals and maintaining a high passing percentage.
Where McAtee excels is in his ability to find space and pick a pass. Given more playing time, he could stake a genuine claim for a place in England's senior World Cup squad. The asking price is reportedly £40m, which could be a bargain considering McAtee's supposed "peak" years are well ahead of him.
Other options include Harvey Elliott and Mikkel Damsgaard. Elliott has played 18 games for Liverpool, scoring two goals and an assist, but his energy and shooting accuracy are notable. Damsgaard, a 25-year-old Brentford ace, has provided 10 assists in 38 top-flight games last season, and Frank knows what makes the player tick. However, negotiating with Brentford could be challenging, especially after they've already lost several key players.
Ultimately, the decision will depend on the club's priorities and budget. The team needs to find a suitable replacement for Maddison, and quickly, to avoid repeating last season's mistakes.
