Tottenham are considering a move for £52million Como midfielder Nico Paz after learning James Maddison will miss most of the season.
Paz is a highly rated Argentina international and Spurs are on his trail — although they are yet to make a bid for the 20-year-old.
Spurs will be without Maddison for several months after he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The 28-year-old suffered the injury during the draw with Newcastle in South Korea last weekend in an innocuous challenge.
Spurs manager Thomas Frank later confirmed the injury was to the same knee Maddison had injured last season, which meant he missed the Europa League final victory over Manchester United.
He had tests after arriving back in the UK, and the club’s initial fears that he had damaged his cruciate ligament were realised.
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Tottenham are weighing up a move to sign £52million-rated midfielder Nico Paz from Como
However, the club are yet to make a bid for the highly rated 20-year-old Argentina international
This comes after Spurs learned they will be without Maddison for several months after he ruptured his ACL
A Spurs statement read: ‘We can confirm that James Maddison will undergo surgery for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
‘His surgery will take place in the coming days and, following that, James will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team. Everyone at Tottenham wishes James a full and speedy recovery. We will be supporting him every step of the way.’
Mohammed Kudus can assume Maddison’s role but Spurs had already been looking to strengthen centrally, notably in their attempts to sign Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest.
Dejan Kulusevski has also been ruled out of the start of the season, after knee surgery in May, leaving Frank desperate for creative options.