(Credit: Imago)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Fri 8 August 2025 13:39, UK

James Maddison’s ACL injury opens up a hole at Tottenham Hotspur which could be filled by Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, sources have told Football Insider.

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Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have said about Tottenham’s transfer plans after Maddison’s injury.

Maddison was struck down with a serious knee injury in Tottenham’s friendly against Newcastle on 3 August, and a torn anterior cruciate ligament will rule the 28-year-old out until February 2026 at least.

Spurs have therefore been forced back into the transfer market in a bid to replace their number 10 for the time being, and sources have told Football Insider that Elliott would “tick a lot of boxes” for Tottenham.

Maddison and Elliott put up strong numbers in differing circumstances last season (Credit: Imago)

Elliott is one of three Premier League attackers Tottenham have shortlisted to succeed Maddison prior to the new season, but he’s more likely to move on this summer than Morgan Gibbs-White or Eberechi Eze.

Sources have told Football Insider that Elliott looks set to leave Liverpool for increased game-time this summer, and Tottenham see the 22-year-old as a player they could sign for “the right fee” to replace Maddison.

Football Insider revealed last month that RB Leipzig had joined several Premier League clubs in the race to sign Elliott this summer, and the Bundesliga side will go toe-to-toe with Tottenham for his signature.

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Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke said Tottenham will look to find a replacement for Maddison after his potential season-ending injury, and Elliott has emerged as the most feasible of their targets.

“It was a bad injury to James Maddison that’s [since] been confirmed”, he told Football Insider.

“He’s suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury which means he will miss the majority of the new season, which is a huge blow to him and to Tottenham.

“Harvey Elliott would tick a lot of boxes – the player is open to leaving Liverpool this summer, [he] wants to be playing regular first team football having dropped down the pecking order at Anfield.

“He had a great Under-21 Euros with England and I think, reluctantly, Liverpool would consider letting Elliott go for the right fee.”

Brighton are one of the contenders to sign Harvey Elliott (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Liverpool have long since been expected to sell Elliott this summer after his bit-part role in their Premier League title success, and his exit could help raise funds for Arne Slot‘s side to sign Alexander Isak.

Spurs have joined a long list of clubs keen on Elliott, however, with RB Leipzig the current front-runners after Brighton had previously looked closest to sealing a £40million deal for the Under-21 Euros winner.

Elliott’s performances for England at this summer’s tournament have certainly helped to boost his reputation and price tag, but it remains to be seen if Tottenham can emerge as his preferred option.

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