In a significant blow to Tottenham Hotspur's defensive lineup, Romanian international Radu Dragusin has been sidelined for the remainder of the season after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee during last week's Europa League victory over Elfsborg.
The 23-year-old defender, who joined Spurs from Genoa in a £25m transfer this January, will require surgery for the injury. Medical experts suggest that ACL injuries typically demand a recovery period of at least six months, with some cases extending up to a year. Tottenham's medical team will conduct ongoing assessments to determine when Dragusin can resume training.
The timing of this injury is particularly challenging for Tottenham, as Dragusin had quickly established himself as a key player, featuring in 21 of the team's last 23 matches. His absence adds to Spurs' growing injury concerns, with several key players already sidelined, including Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. While Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action, the team's defensive options remain limited.
In response to this defensive crisis, Tottenham has moved swiftly in the transfer market, securing Austria defender Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to make the move permanent for £21m. The club has also shown ambition in strengthening their squad further, making a substantial £70m bid for Crystal Palace's England defender Marc Guehi, though this offer was rejected. Additionally, Spurs have successfully acquired 19-year-old attacking talent Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich, demonstrating their commitment to both immediate reinforcement and future development.
