London Evening Standard

Thomas Frank says Tottenham remain active in the transfer market following a serious injury to James Maddison, and has issued fitness updates on Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie.

Spurs confirmed on Thursday that Maddison will undergo surgery after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury, leaving Frank with a creativity void to fill in his squad with Dejan Kulusevski also sidelined for the foreseeable.

Later in the day, Frank watched on as Spurs lost 4-0 at Bayern Munich in the final pre-season friendly ahead of facing Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in next week's UEFA Super Cup.

Spurs struggled to create many chances of note, while as their defence creaked against Bayern's forward line, in what will be a wake-up call ahead of facing what many believe to be the best team in the world in PSG.

Asked if Spurs are looking to secure further signings, Frank told reporters: "We are definitely in the market in general.

"Of course, when players get a long-term injury we need to look into that, but generally we are in the market, yes. Nobody feels close or far away. I'm not saying anything before there's anything that is completely 100%."

He added: “If we think we can find the right one, one who can improve the team, then he will be signed. If we can't, then not.”

The head coach had previously said he was "positive" Solanke would face Bayern, and after another no-show, Frank insisted Solanke will "be available quite soon".

Spurs conclude their pre-season preparations in Germany this evening as they take on the Bundesliga champions, led by a familiar face in Harry Kane. With less than a week until the UEFA Super Cup clash with Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, tonight is the final time for head coach Thomas Frank to tinker with his squad with nothing on the line.

It has been a mixed summer so far for Spurs, having not yet tasted defeat under Frank but while only producing one performance of real quality - when beating Arsenal in Hong Kong in the first ever overseas north London derby. Bayern beat Spurs twice last summer, so reversing that trend could produce a welcome confidence boost ahead of the trip to Udine.

Kane will be facing his former club for the second successive summer, while Joao Palhinha is expected to make his debut for Spurs having recently joined on loan for the season from the Bavarian giants. Frank will hope to have Dominic Solanke available for the first time since early summer. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis.

Tottenham have been dealt a major blow after scans confirmed James Maddison has suffered a serious knee injury.

Maddison ruptured his ACL in last week’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle and Spurs have confirmed the midfielder will undergo surgery .

Spurs have not put a timeframe on how long Maddison will be out but he is set for a long spell on the sidelines, in a huge setback for Spurs ahead of the new season.

A Spurs statement read: We can confirm that James Maddison will undergo surgery for a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee.

“The 28-year-old midfielder suffered the injury during our pre-season friendly against Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul.

“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 Hotspur wishes James a full and speedy recovery. We will be supporting him every step of the way.”

Thomas Frank was already short of creative players, with Dejan Kulusevski out for the start of the season and after Spurs missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White.

The 28-year-old pulled up just minutes after coming on against Newcastle and collapsed to the pitch with his head in his hands.

He is now expected the miss the majority of the forthcoming season.

Maddison scored 12 goals in 45 appearances for Spurs last season. His injury also surely ends any hopes he had of forcing his way back into the England squad for the World Cup.

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The striker picked up an ankle injury in a friendly clash against Reading in July and has not appeared since, but it is hoped he can return to the fold on Thursday as the Lilywhites visit Bavaria to face Bayern Munich.

They will make the trip without James Maddison, though, after the midfielder was stretchered off with a fresh knee injury during a 1-1 draw with Newcastle at the weekend.

Son Heung-Min will also be absent after he bid an emotional farewell to the club in the same match. He is expected to complete a move to LAFC in the coming days.

As this is Spurs’ last friendly outing ahead of the UEFA Super Cup, Frank is expected to name a squad similar to that which will face European champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Maddison’s injury means that Lucas Bergvall could return to the starting XI as a No10, as he did against Arsenal in Hong Kong a week ago.

Son’s absence is set to prompt a shake-up in Frank’s forward line, and could open the door for Solanke to return.

Frank said last week that the striker ‘should be fit’ to return in time for the Bayern clash, and, with Richarlison struggling for form, he could be handed a chance to impress, though his minutes may be limited as he looks to avoid reaggravating the injury.

Mohamed Kudus has been quick off the mark after moving to north London and should return on the right wing, while Mathys Tel is set to face his former club for the first time in place of Wilson Odobert.

Pape Matar Sarr, scorer of a wonder goal in last week’s north London derby, and Rodrigo Bentancur have proven an effective defensive midfield partnership this summer, but Frank may opt to try a new combination, handing Archie Gray a run out alongside the Senegalese as he looks to determine his best midfield setup.

Joao Palhinha is in the running to take a holding midfield role, but, after joining the club on Sunday, it is likely too soon for him to start. He will be eyeing a debut cameo, though.

Pedro Porro and Cristian Romero will continue to hold down the right-hand side of the Spurs back four, though the left side has seen more rotation this summer. After they held Arsenal goalless, though, Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven should get the nod.

South Korean is an all-time Premier League great after decade-long journey that ended with glory in Bilbao

Spurs legend: Heung-min Son

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Thomas Frank predicted Heung-min Son would have “a beautiful ending to a beautiful story” - and so it proved.

Son signed off from ten years at Tottenham on Sunday with an emotional friendly in front of 64,773 adoring fans in South Korea.

After lifting the Europa League with Spurs and ending their 17-year wait for a trophy in his final competitive match, it was the perfect send-off for a player who leaves as a club legend.

Son had to hold back the tears after his final appearance in a Spurs shirt against Newcastle on Sunday, with his move to LAFC expected to be completed this week.

Son captained Spurs to their Europa League triumph in Bilbao last season

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“Beautiful moments and it was really emotional,” said Son. “It was a perfect moment. I think sharing this beautiful moment is something I will never forget. Spurs will always be in my heart.”

Son lifting the Europa League trophy in Bilbao served as a fitting final chapter to his Spurs career.

It was the crowning moment for the 33-year-old, who became one of the most feared forwards in world football during his time with Spurs.

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Son has described his ten years at Spurs as “incredible” - and the numbers back it up. In 454 appearances, he scored 173 goals and registered 101 assists.

He is fifth on the list of the club’s all-time top scorers, with fourth-placed Martin Chivers just one goal ahead of him.

Son scored 173 goals in 454 appearances for Spurs

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Son endeared himself to Spurs fans by delivering when it mattered most, even scoring the first-ever goal at the opening of the club’s new stadium in 2019.

During Spurs’ run to the Champions League final in that same year, he scored four goals in the knockout stages - more than any other player in the squad.

Three of those came against Manchester City in the quarter-finals, a side Son had an outstanding record against.

Indeed, in 21 matches against City, he managed eight goals and five assists. Few players have caused Pep Guardiola more headaches than Son.

Spurs fans may be thankful that tally never reached nine, however, and it is hard not to wonder how differently Son would be remembered had he scored in that key match two seasons ago which could have handed Arsenal the title.

That was not quite a sliding doors moment, but Son certainly had one following his first year at Spurs. After scoring just eight goals in 40 games, he was ready to go back to the Bundesliga.

“I came close to leaving,” Son told Standard Sport in 2019. “I went to the gaffer’s office and told him I didn’t feel comfortable and wanted to leave to Germany.”

Son scored some big goals for Spurs - including this one against Manchester City in their run to the 2019 Champions League final

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Mauricio Pochettino persuaded him to stay, and he went on to become a pillar of the Argentine’s side.

The biggest compliment you can pay him is that Son may rival Harry Kane as one of Tottenham’s greatest ever players - not least because he stayed and helped end their trophy drought.

Much of that side Pochettino built was broken up after he left, but Son remained, and his loyalty was rewarded.

In the modern era, it is rare to find a player that stays somewhere for ten years - especially when they are not an academy product of that club. Yet Son was never seriously linked with a move away, even when his form merited it.

During the 2022-23 season, he was the Premier League’s joint top scorer with Mohamed Salah after scoring 23 goals. After a disappointing first season, Son had six years in a row where he scored at least 18 goals in all competitions, winning Tottenham’s Player of the Season three times.

Son was the Spurs captain who ended their 17-year wait for a trophy

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That was when Son was at the peak of his powers, though, and now feels like the right time for him to leave.

His tally of 11 goals last season was his worst for Spurs since his debut campaign and during Tottenham’s run to the Europa League final it became clear his influence on the pitch was waning.

Off the pitch, however, Son remained integral. As captain, his leadership and popularity in the dressing room were beyond question.

Son leaves Spurs on his own terms, and on a high. Not many in football are afforded that luxury, but if anyone deserves it, it’s Son.

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Joao Palhinha’s Tottenham shirt number has been confirmed after joining on a season-long loan deal.

Palhinha became Spurs’ latest signing of the summer transfer window at the weekend as his move from Bayern Munich was officially announced.

The Portugal international, who has previously impressed in the Premier League for Fulham, will bolster Thomas Frank’s midfield options which already include Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr.

Palhinha made the move to Bayern last summer but was restricted to just six Bundesliga starts during the 2024-25 season as a mix of injuries and strong competition for places prevented him from becoming a regular under Vincent Kompany.

Ironically the 30-year-old could make his Tottenham debut against his parent club on Thursday as the two sides meet in Germany for a pre-season friendly.

Should Palhinha feature he will don No6 on the back of his Spurs shirt after electing to take the vacant squad number following Radu Dragusin’s decision to switch to No3 ahead of the new season.

Palhinha wore No16 at Bayern after wearing No26 at Fulham. In fact, throughout his career he was always chosen a number with a six whether that be for club or country and there is a reason why it is so important to him.

He said: “I try to choose always a number with a six – sometimes it’s not available but since I started my career, it was a number that I’ve had with me because of my family.

“It means a lot for me because of my grandfather… it’s the day that he left our family and since my grandfather died, if I have a look, a lot of important things in my life have happened on this day, with the number six.

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“I can remember my first goal... everything that has been important in my career – not just the career, but in other things as well – most of the days have the number six.

“I’m a bit superstitious and I believe always that this number has an important meaning for me and my family and this is why I want to keep, if possible, the number with me on the shirt.”

As mentioned above, No6 at Spurs had previously been in possession of Dragusin prior to his switch. Meanwhile, previous owners of this particular shirt number include Davinson Sanchez, Nabil Bentaleb, Tom Huddlestone and Chris Perry.

Dragusin has taken the No3 shirt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which had become vacant at the beginning of the month after Sergio Reguilon left on a free transfer. As a result, the central defender now wears the same shirt number for club and country.

He said: “I feel like this number represents me. I have been wearing it in the national team since three years ago and I just feel it really represents who I am – someone who is always ready to give everything for the team.

“Now, I’m really proud to wear it in north London.”

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Tottenham take on Bayern Munich in Germany on Thursday in Thomas Frank’s final pre-season friendly before the Uefa Super Cup.

Spurs are unbeaten in five pre-season outings so far under Frank, combining wins against Reading and Arsenal with draws against Wycombe Wanderers, Luton Town and - most recently - Newcastle.

Following their stalemate with the Magpies on Sunday, Frank’s squad is travelling to Bavaria to face Bundesliga champions Bayern at the Allianz Arena in the Telekom Cup.

Fresh injury concerns have cropped up from the team’s latest exploits in Asia, though, potentially prompting Spurs to dip back into the transfer market, with captain Heung-min Son also departing the club after a decade in north London.

Bayern, meanwhile, kicked off their own pre-season action by beating French side Lyon on Saturday. That came after a matchless month for Vincent Kompany’s team, who reached the quarter-finals of this summer’s Club World Cup before losing to finalists Paris Saint-Germain.

After this, Spurs will take on Champions League PSG in the Uefa Super Cup on August 13, at Italy’s Stadio Friul, before hosting Burnley for their 2025-26 Premier League campaign opener.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Bayern Munich vs Tottenham is scheduled for a 53.0pm BST kick-off on Thursday, August 7, 2025.

The match will take place at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Where to watch Bayern Munich vs Tottenham

TV channel: The game won’t be shown live on any free-to-view television channels in the UK.

Live stream: However, a live stream will be available from 4.30pm BST ahead of the 5.30pm kick-off via SPURSPLAY. That service, which carries pre-season coverage, match replays, highlights and other video documentaries, costs £45 per year or a discounted £35 for members and season ticket holders.

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Live blog: You can also follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.

Familiar foe: Harry Kane

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Bayern Munich vs Tottenham team news

These two sides have crafted a connection with their transfer dealings in recent years, most notably with former Spurs captain Harry Kane heading to Munich two summers ago. He was later followed by Eric Dier, while Mathys Tel went the opposite direction on a permanent deal in June and former Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha has just done the same on a year-long loan.

It’s unclear if Palhinha will be ready to feature against his parent club come Thursday, and Dier has since departed Munich for Monaco, but Kane and Tel were both involved in their respective sides’ friendlies at the weekend and should play a part this week.

Spurs will be without Son, who bid an emotional farewell to the club ahead of his move to LAFC, as well as playmaker James Maddison, who was stretchered off late on against Newcastle with what looked to be a serious knee injury. Dejan Kulusevski also remains out with a knee injury of his own, which looks set to keep the Swede sidelined for the start of the season.

Dominic Solanke - who has been out since the pre-season opener against Reading - may return to replace Richarlison up top after dealing with an ankle injury in recent weeks, with Frank saying last week that his first-choice striker “should be fit” to face Bayern.

New signing Mohammed Kudus, meanwhile, was restricted to substitute duty in Seoul on Sunday, with Brennan Johnson scoring the opener against Newcastle after starting on the right wing. Pape Matar Sarr has been heavily utilised by Frank throughout pre-season and has even stepped into a more attacking role at times, so could deputise as a No10 in place of Maddison and Kulusevski.

At the back, Antonin Kinsky was given a full run-out in place of hitherto No1 goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, with those two splitting pre-season duties so far. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were given a half each in the Newcastle match, as were Pedro Porro and Djed Spence, with Kevin Danso and Ben Davies also starting as left-back Destiny Udogie remains absent with a knee injury.

As for Bayern, two second-half goals from Michael Olise, including a penalty, were enough to see off a late attempted comeback by Lyon over the weekend.

The former Palace attacker was one of 11 changes made by Kompany after a goalless first half in that match, alongside ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz, who won the aforementioned penalty on what was his debut for the Bavarian side.

Harry Kane, Kingsley Coman, Dayot Upamecano and Manuel Neuer were among the starters, with the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah and Serge Gnabry introduced at half-time with Olise and Diaz.

Jamal Musiala remains a long-term absentee, though, having undergone surgery in July on the fractured leg and broken and dislocated ankle he suffered at the Club World Cup.

Bayern Munich vs Tottenham prediction

Bayern fare favourably in the overall head-to-head record between these two sides (see below), and will be hoping to build momentum quickly ahead of the new season. Thursday’s match aside, they have only one more friendly - versus Zurich-based Grasshoppers - remaining before the German Super Cup final against VfB Stuttgart on August 16, with the start of their Bundesliga title defence against RB Leipzig coming less than a week later.

But will their lack of pre-season minutes leave them underprepared to face Frank’s new-look Spurs?

Spurs, though dealing with the losses of a few key men, have shown promise under their new boss so far in their friendlies, and Solanke’s potential return could provide a clinical touch up front that the likes of Richarlison and Tel have struggled to offer in his absence.

Spurs will also no doubt be keen to finally chalk up a first victory against this opponent in decades, but they’ll certainly have their work cut out for them at the back given the breadth of attacking options Bayern can call upon.

Draw, 1-1.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Bayern is an opponent Tottenham have often struggled to match, with the north Londoners last winning this tie back in 1983, during the third round of the Uefa Cup - a tournament Spurs would go on to win early the following year.

Since then, the Germans have won every time, combining heavy victories in the 2019-20 Champions League with a pair of pre-season wins last summer.

Bayern wins: 6

Tottenham wins: 1

Draws: 1

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The practice of one person or business entity holding stakes in various clubs is far from a new one, with Premier League giants Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea among those that have “sister clubs” in the game, from Girona to Nice and Strasbourg.

While it can have its benefits, such as aiding player development through loan moves, it can also cause significant issues for clubs and their fans, as exemplified by the situation Crystal Palace have found themselves in this summer.

The Eagles, whose FA Cup victory earned their place in the Europa League, were instead demoted to the Conference League by European football's governing body UEFA on July 11 after it determined that as of March 1, American businessman John Textor had control or influence at Palace and French club Lyon. UEFA rules state that one or more clubs deemed to have common ownership cannot play in the same competition, with Lyon edging out Palace for the sole Europa League place because of their comparatively higher league finish last season.

Textor has since sold his stakes in the south London club, but the Eagles still face a hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport on August 8 before they learn the verdict on their European fate on August 11.

Discussing his views on multi-club ownership in an interview with Gary Neville for The Overlap, brought to you by SkyBet, Levy said the issue is a “very important” one when it comes to the sustainability of today’s game.

Pressed by Neville if he was against multi-club ownership, the Spurs chief said: “I think they have to be very careful.

“I think the idea that one club is involved with lots of different clubs, with the money involved today, I think it has to be controlled carefully.”

Explaining that such schemes could be used to “abuse” football’s financial control measures, Levy continued: “It worries me a little bit because there’s so much money in the game now, and you only need one owner to do something inappropriate and it would impact the whole confidence from sponsors and broadcasters in the European game.

The current transfer window has seen more activity at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium than fans have been accustomed to in years past, with the likes of Mohammed Kudus and now Joao Palhinha following new manager Thomas Frank through the door as the Lilywhites prepare to return to Champions League football courtesy of their Europa League victory despite finishing 17th in the league last season.

Asked if he feels he gets enough credit for what he can control at the club, Levy replied: “When I’m not here, I’m sure I’ll get the credit.”

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