Tottenham may already have James Maddison replacement as £34.7m offer launched
Tottenham have been dealt a significant blow by the news that James Maddison has suffered an injury to his ACL.
The midfielder was stretchered off in the friendly against Newcastle on Sunday (3 August), and he will now be facing a lengthy period on the sidelines.
Tottenham may be without Maddison for as many as eight months, and it is entirely possible that the England international may not kick another ball all season.
The former Leicester man would have been at the centre of Thomas Frank’s plans, and as such, his absence creates an urgent need for the Lilywhites to source a top-quality replacement.
Tottenham see £34.7m Nico Paz bid rejected by Como
Spurs are already facing the unenviable task of replacing Son Heung-min, and they have now been tasked with a similar assignment to find an alternative to Maddison.
The North London outfit have been linked with several big-money moves this summer, and Daniel Levy does not appear to be shy with his cash in this window, which is vital given the current situation.
- Maddison was stretchered off in the recent friendly against Newcastle
- He could now be in line to potentially miss as many as 49 games for Spurs this season
- It has also potentially placed a question mark over his long-term future
It has only been a matter of days since Maddison’s injury took place, but Tottenham may have already found his replacement.
They seemingly have their eyes fixed firmly on Como midfielder Nico Paz, and have already seen a bid of £40million rejected by the Italian team, according to Gianluca Di Marzio (7 August).
Cesc Fabregas’ side have a lofty valuation of over £60m for the Argentine, and it is believed that it will take an offer of above £52m before they are even willing to entertain the possibility of selling the starlet.
The former Real Madrid academy graduate had an excellent debut campaign in Serie A last time out, and he could be the ideal way for Spurs to fill the hole left by their talented creator.
Given that the new Premier League campaign is now just over a week away, it would surely be sensible for Levy to stump up the cash to match the valuation and secure a deal for Paz as quickly as possible.
- Read More: Three James Maddison replacements Tottenham could sign including ‘unbelievable’ Man City star
Paz would be a great investment for Spurs
Tottenham’s interest in Paz is nothing new, as they sent scouts to watch him for Como over the course of last season.
Maddison’s injury is a hugely frustrating development, but it may have now provided the N17 outfit with the impetus that they needed to go out and get a deal done for the 20-year-old.
| Stat | Total | Rank compared to Serie A midfielders |
| Apps | 35 | – |
| Goals | 6 | =11th |
| Assists | 8 | =2nd |
| Successful Dribbles | 69 | 1st |
| Big Chances Created | 11 | =4th |
| Key Passes | 54 | 9th |
Paz notched six goals and eight assists in Serie A last term from just 35 games, in what was a hugely impressive return for his first full campaign in senior football. That form also saw him earn his first senior caps for his country.
The fact that he is already producing those numbers in one of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues by the age of 20 should be a huge sign to Spurs that he would be a worthwhile investment.
Although primarily an attacking midfielder, Paz also has the ability to step out onto the right flank, and he appears to have all the attributes of a player who could become a star for Spurs.
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