"He should be okay. It was just a knock." Those were the now infamous words uttered by Ange Postecoglou after Dejan Kulusevski was forced off in a forgettable 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace just days before the Europa League final.
Our former boss was keen to dismiss the Swede's setback, potentially believing he'd be A-OK for the grand event in Bilbao. However, as we've harshly come to learn, Postecoglou's outlook was drastically wide of the mark.
We haven't seen Kulusevski in action since that day, and over the time, the outlook has become increasingly concerning. Potential return checkpoints have come and gone, with Thomas Frank recently describing his patella injury as "complicated". The Dane hopes that the former Juventus star will be back on the grass next month, but that's far from a guarantee.
I miss Dejan Kulusevski
— AllThings_THFC (@Allthings__THFC) January 13, 2026
There's a good chance Kulusevski misses a year of football and doesn't play at all this season. With little likely to be on the line down the stretch, preserving the creative wide player for 2026/27 would be wise. However, Graham Potter will undoubtedly want him available for the World Cup, should Sweden qualify via the play-offs in March.
Despite the lengthy layoff and the player's gruesome social media post from last September, we don't exactly know what has happened to Kulusevski's knee. His patella may not have exploded like Ronaldo's back in 2000, which threatened the great Brazilian's career, but there's a chance that whenever the Swede returns, the iteration we're subject to doesn't quite boast the same swagger and conviction.
Maghnes Akliouche interest suggests serious concern over Dejan Kulusevski injury
Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche was a name who entered our consciousness amid the panicked scramble to sign a No. 10 in the summer. We never really veered beyond interest, with Xavi Simons arriving instead, but The Independent write that Spurs remain intrigued over the possibility of signing Akliouche this month.
Alasdair Gold (via The Spurs Express on X) adds that our interest is long-standing, with Monaco believed to be eyeing up replacements in the event of a winter sale.
Akliouche has risen to prominence in Ligue 1 over the past couple of years, notching 19 goals and 22 assists in 119 league appearances. There have been consistency issues during a rather tumultuous campaign in 2025/26, with Monaco curiously switching managers in the autumn. Still, the 23-year-old now has five France caps to his name and is in contention to make Didier Deschamps World Cup squad.
Akliouche is clearly a gifted player who'd get bums off seats in N17, even if he'd be playing for a manager keen to stymy joy. We shouldn't scoff at stockpiling players of the young Frenchman's ilk.
However, there are similarities with Kulusevski. He's a left-footed creator who likes to operate from the right half-space. He can play as a No. 10, too, but his best work tends to arrive when he drifts infield from the touchline. The Swede is far superior at resisting pressure in the dribble and is a more pinpoint finisher, but Akliouche would help alleviate his current absence and potential reduced potency upon his return more than any other in the Tottenham squad.
Perhaps I'm reading a little too much into it regarding Kulusevski. Spurs need to make an addition in attack after selling Brennan Johnson and seeing Mohammed Kudus succumb against Sunderland, but the Swede's injury could be career-altering. Thus, planning for a world in which Kulusevski is no longer the leader of our creative department seems wise.