Tottenham Hotspur star James Maddison is set to miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season with injury and it could be bad news for Leeds United as well.
The new Premier League season is still a week away but the first major casualty of the campaign has already been felt.
It has been confirmed that James Maddison suffered a torn ACL in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
Maddison is set to miss the vast majority, if not all, of the forthcoming season and the blow leaves new Spurs boss Thomas Frank in a bind.
Tottenham have just waved goodbye to talisman Son Heung-min, who has joined Los Angeles FC, and are now another forward down on the cusp of the new season.
Spurs are likely to be forced into the transfer market to remedy the situation and that could be a problem for Leeds United in their pursuit of Bilal El Khannouss.
Bilal El Khannouss holds his hands on his hips during a Leicester City game.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Tottenham may step up interest in Leeds target El Khannouss after Maddison injury
Daniel Farke has worked to improve the height, physicality and experience of his squad this summer, making seven signings that have solved issues in defence, midfield and between the sticks.
However, they have been very industrious signings lacking in attacking flair and Farke raised concerns of his side’s quality going forward after Saturday’s draw with Villarreal.
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A striker, winger and playmaker are all still being targeted ahead of deadline day on September 1 and, after missing out on Igor Paixao, Leicester City’s El Khannouss has emerged as a top target.
Leeds are the only Premier League club to make a ‘formal enquiry’, according to reports, and El Khannouss is reportedly ‘very interested’ in the move.
However, Leeds face stiff competition with several other top-flight sides interested, including Arsenal.
Additionally, Tottenham were already said to be considering El Khannouss as a replacement for Son.
Now that they have lost Maddison, too, Spurs could well step up their interest in the £22m-rated playmaker.
Even if El Khannouss does like the look of Leeds, the prospect of playing Champions League football with Spurs will be much more appealing than a relegation battle.
Leeds could find themselves missing out on another key attacking target.
James Maddison injury might impact Manor Solomon’s future
Another way Maddison’s injury might impact Leeds surrounds the fate of Manor Solomon, who shone on loan at Elland Road last season.
Solomon was crucial in clinching the title and Leeds were desperate to bring him back in a permanent move.
However, Solomon instead wanted to prove his quality to incoming manager Frank and wanted a second chance to impress at Spurs.
He has been unable to so far in pre-season, as injury ruled him out of their pre-season tour in Asia, and it doesn’t look like he has a future at the club.
Frank didn’t mention Solomon as a possible Son replacement recently and there has been revived hope that Leeds could sign him.
However, Spurs may be hesitant to let a forward option leave after suffering such a big injury blow.