James Maddison injury forces huge Thomas Frank decision after Daniel Levy ultimatum

Tottenham have a decision to make in the final weeks of the summer transfer window after James Maddison was stretchered off during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle.

The meeting with the Magpies was Son Heung-Min’s final match in a Spurs shirt, but Maddison’s suspected ACL injury in the second half marred the South Korean’s Seoul send off. On the injury, Spurs boss Thomas Frank said: “James Maddison’s injury looks bad. It was a brutal moment. We're pretty sure it was the same knee he injured before.”

The pre-season stalemate marked Maddison’s first appearance since being forced off against Bodoe/Glimt in the Europa League in May with a knee problem.

It comes as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy issued an ultimatum to the newly appointed head coach with the north London side’s season kicking off next week when they face PSG in the Super Cup.

“Whenever you appoint a coach, you always believe it's right. You need a lot of ingredients for it to be right,” Levy told Gary Neville on the Overlap.

Daniel Levy has been chair of Tottenham Hotspur for over 20 years, assuming the role in 2001. (Image: Getty)

“Thomas is a highly intelligent individual, a fantastic way about him in terms of communication. I think he will be great at both developing young players and older players and making them better. He gets the style of football we want to play.

“He understands Rome wasn't built in a day. We haven't said to him that we want to win the Premier League this year.”

When asked when Frank is expected to win the league, Levy replied: “As soon as possible, but no pressure. We just want to compete at the highest level.”

Frank’s quest for domestic and continental silverware becomes that much harder without Maddison, who scored nine times and provided seven assists in the Premier League last season.

The former Leicester man was key in Spurs’ Europa League triumph, netting in the 3-1 home leg win over Bodoe/Glimt in May, but sat out the 1-0 final victory over Manchester United in Bilbao.

Attention now turns to how Spurs replace Maddison, with Dejan Kulusevski also some way off full fitness having required surgery on his patella back in May.

Jack Grealish of Man City

Spurs fans outline who they want to sign

While fans would hope the club can hijack moves for Eberechi Eze or Xavi Simons, the pair on the cusp of respective moves to Arsenal and Chelsea, one X, formerly Twitter, user believes the north London side should raid Manchester City as Spurs look to bring in a new number 10.

“After the James Maddison injury news, this has a move for Jack Grealish on loan written all over it.” Spurs Post posted on X.

“I for one would absolutely take this all day long. #COYS #Grealish”

Another, meanwhile, has backed a high profile raid on Aston Villa for Morgan Rogers after his superb first full season at Villa Park.