Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has officially been suspended for seven games in domestic leagues and handed a £100,000 fine for the comments he made about South Korean people he made back in June.
Bentancur apologized to teammate Son Heung-Min and offered a public apology for his remarks but the suspension was imminent, and it doesn't change the fact that Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou's team will have its depth tested without the 27-year-old.
Postecoglou has started the Uruguayan international in 7 of the team's 11 Premier League games this campaign, and he scored a header against Ipswich Town in his last league match. The ban means that he'll be unavailable in domestic matches until Tottenham's Dec. 26 matchup with Nottingham Forest.
He's also ineligible for the team's Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Manchester United on Dec. 19, but Bentancur is still allowed to play in the team's two Europa League contests. Those are a Nov. 28 matchup against AS Roma and a clash with Hoffenheim on Dec. 12.
Due to the long-term nature of Bentancur's suspension, the team has to find a long-term replacement for the Uruguyuan. Who that will be remains in the air, but with the team's next match days away against reigning champions, Manchester City, there isn't much time to figure it out.
Who will replace Bentancur in the starting XI?
The most obvious answer, is of course James Maddison. Maddison's recent form has been disappointing, but he's the best option to take Bentancur's spot in the starting lineup. He doesn't have the same holding ability that the Uruguyuan does, but he's still one of the best attacking midfielders in the world.
In the last year, Maddison ranks in the 99th percentile compared to other players at his position with more than 9 progressive passes per game. He's in the 91st percentile for shot-creating actons, and is in the 90th percentile in assists per game. If Postecoglou opts for an even more attack-centric lineup against Man City, Maddison will be the one to take the starting spot.
Yves Bissouma is also an option for the Australian and is in fine form after scoring the first two goals of his Spurs career this season. If Postecoglou wants a midfield with the same holding ability, then the Mali international captain is the best option.
The manager could even opt for youngster Lucas Bergvall. Bergvall hasn't impressed in the 46 minutes he's played in the Premier League this campaign, but Man City have looked sluggish as of late with midfielder Rodri injured and out for the rest of the season. If there's one gurantee with the 18-year-old's play, it's his speed.
Regardless of who Postecoglou chooses to replace him, losing Bentancur to the suspension is undoubtedly a blow considering how well he was playing, and it has the potential to hurt Tottenham moving forward.