There are growing concerns about James Maddison heading into the 2026/27 season, with supporters starting to wonder whether Spurs should be signing another new playmaker before the summer window slams shut.
The club has so far spent plenty and bought well to rejuvenate its defence and midfield. However, we're yet to make a single improvement to an attack that looked so bereft of quality last year.
The Savinho deal is dragging out, and Liverpool don't want to sell Cody Gakpo. If those deals don't pan out, it's unclear where Spurs will turn.
Reports have suggested that as many as three forward players could yet be signed, and you do wonder whether we'd be selling ourselves short if we don't add another playmaker, given Maddison's fitness setback in preseason.
After missing much of a disastrous 2025/26 campaign with an ACL tear, Maddison is now dealing with a "small injury", according to Roberto De Zerbi, that'll keep him out of action for the next couple of weeks. His status for the start of the season is in doubt.
With Xavi Simons out until the new year and Dejan Kulusevski sidelined since last May, Spurs would be taking a big risk by relying on Maddison for creativity in central areas. It's hardly uncommon for players to suffer from muscle issues in the wake of a significant knee injury, and frequent absences could put a ceiling on what De Zerbi's side achieves next season.
Bilal El Khannouss 'open' to Stuttgart departure after one year
There haven't been any concrete links to No. 10s this summer, with Spurs prioritising additions out wide and up top.
Another Morgan Gibbs-White pursuit has been hopelessly flirted with, and there's another former target who could re-emerge as a transfer possibility this summer.
Fabrizio Romano's nemesis, Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, has reported that Stuttgart's Bilal El Khannouss is "one to watch" in the transfer market.
The Moroccan international joined the German club from Leicester City last summer, notching 18 goal contributions in 44 games across all competitions. He subsequently featured six times at the World Cup for the Atlas Lions, who reached the quarterfinals.
El Khannouss is a silky, talented playmaker who caught our eye last year. The Spurs insiders were particularly bullish about our interest, but he ended up at Stuttgart. Despite a fine debut season in the Bundesliga, the 22-year-old is said to be "open" to moving on again.
While Stuttgart wouldn't block a sale, Plettenberg notes that they'd demand up to €60m after completing his €20m permanent arrival earlier this summer.
For now, the Moroccan isn't on our radar, but you do wonder whether the intrigue will resurface later in the window, given the reported links last year and his willingness to move on. Perhaps the opening two games of the season will determine whether we dip our toe in the playmaker market.
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