Tottenham's need to sign at least one, if not two, attacking midfielders has increased now the club have confirmed that James Maddison has torn his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).

Maddison, 28, had to be stretchered off after going down in an off the ball incident during Spurs' pre-season fixture against Newcastle United on Sunday. Thomas Frank delivered a concerning update in a post-match interview, admitting he is worried that the midfielder has suffered a "bad injury".

Frank's worst fears have since come true, with Spurs announcing on Thursday morning that Maddison is set to undergo surgery for a ruptured ACL in his right knee - the same one he injured at the end of last season.

READ MORE: Tottenham player ratings vs Bayern - Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Palhinha and Johnson struggle in rout

READ MORE: Three potential Tottenham transfer targets to replace stricken James Maddison

While losing Maddison is no doubt a major blow for Tottenham and Frank, the club cannot rest on their laurels and have got to act fast to bring in a replacement before the end of the summer.

Even before Maddison's latest setback, Spurs wanted to sign Morgan Gibbs-White and activated his £60million Nottingham Forest release clause before he opted to remain in the East Midlands.

Indeed, with Maddison joining Dejan Kulusevski out injured, there is a distinct chance that Tottenham sign two attacking midfielders in the remaining three-and-a-half weeks of the transfer window.

Spurs have got to sign one cost-effective option and another blockbuster addition, following the £55m arrival of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham last month.

Looking at a direct replacement for Maddison, first, Leicester City's Bilal El Khannouss would be the perfect addition to Frank's squad. Although some Tottenham fans have shut down the prospect of the Morocco international moving to north London, he would be an excellent signing.

El Khannouss, 21, may have scored just three times and added six assists in 36 appearances for Leicester following his £21m move from Genk last summer, but that doesn't tell the full story.

For a team that often didn't have much of the ball, El Khannouss managed to create 42 chances in the Premier League season, working out to around 1.7 per-90. That is, indeed, more than Maddison (41), West Ham's Lucas Paqueta (36), Chelsea's Joao Pedro (30) and several other attacking midfielders.

El Khannouss' creative numbers for last season is about on par with Manchester City's Phil Foden and Gibbs-White, though both of them managed to end up with more direct goal contributions.

Granted, El Khannouss was part of a dire Leicester side, who at one point went nine straight home Premier League matches without scoring a single goal. So, if he was playing with better players, could he have had conjured-up more in terms of goals and assists? That is a no brainer.

Also, Tottenham fans have seen the potential El Khannouss has in the flesh. Indeed, the former Genk man was outstanding at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in January, as he scored during Leicester's shock 2-1 win.

With El Khannouss said to have a £24.5m relegation clause in his Leicester contract, it's a deal that Tottenham should be wrapping up. For that price, Spurs won't be able to get much better.

At just 21, El Khannouss has a season of experience in the Premier League under his belt and has so much talent and potential at his disposal. He would strengthen Tottenham's squad straight from the bat.

On the ball, El Khannouss is fantastic. He often operates in the No.10 role but can drift out to the left-hand side to pick up the ball and make things happen. A terrific ball-carrier, El Khannouss' best asset is his eye for a defence-splitting pass and ability to pick out a man when not many expect him to.

While he isn't the strongest from a defensive point of view and must improve his physical aspect to make it right to the top, he has the work-rate to achieve it, that's for sure.

He would be the cost-effective option for Tottenham in the attacking midfield area, with Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace coming in as the more expensive signing. The 27-year-old doesn't need much introduction to the Spurs faithful following his performances for Palace over recent years.

Eze scored 14 times and provided 11 assists in 43 appearances for Palace last season, helping the club win the FA Cup in the process. He is a full England international and is one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League.

The ex-Queens Park Rangers man has a £68m release clause in his contract, and while that might feel a sizeable amount, Spurs should trigger it and bring Eze, alongside El Khannous to the club.