Keane to miss six weeks of season with ankle injury
And that shattering verdict for Spurs coach Jacques Santini could result in French marksman Olivier Thomert joining Spurs from RC Lens this weekend and making a possible Premiership debut against Liverpool at White Hart Lane on August 14.
Keane, who will also miss the international friendly against Bulgaria four days later and could be doubtful for the World Cup qualifiers against Cyprus and Switzerland in early September, was taken off on a stretcher after only 28 minutes of Wednesday night's tough friendly against Rangers in Glasgow.
He stayed down after a block tackle by Rangers defender Marvin Andrews and later had a brace fitted on his leg.
"It is very frustrating," he said. "You go through pre-season matches to get your fitness up for the season and then something like this happens. But I'm not going to get too down about it. I'm going to keep myself ticking over. I'm a quick healer and so hopefully I'll be back before too long."
Former Inter Milan and Leeds star Keane reported to Spurs' training ground on crutches and the club's head of medical services Dr Charlotte Cowie said: "It looks mainly like ligament damage. He is having a scan this afternoon. We will get the results later tonight and then we will know more about how long he might be out for."
Lens claimed they had rejected a £1.5million offer by Santini for striker Thomert. Spurs have so far not denied such an offer.
Keane's injury could mean Tottenham offering nearer £3m for Thomert, even though Keane's co-striker Fredi Kanoute has given the north London club a boost by turning down the opportunity to play in the Olympic Games next month for Mali.
Kanoute had a good chance of being picked as one of three over-age players in the Mali under-21 team for the Olympics, which would have meant him also missing the first month of the Premiership campaign.
He caused a storm at Spurs midway through last season by declaring himself for Mali, with whom he qualified through ancestry, in the African Nations Cup despite having already represented France at under-21 level, and missing four Premiership and two FA Cup matches.
Before joining West Ham four years ago Kanoute worked under Santini at Olympique Lyonnais but the pair fell out before Kanoute was shipped off to Upton Park in a £4.6m deal in March 2000.
His Spurs debut was delayed at the start of last season after he sustained a groin injury on his first day of training, and he has played in none of their pre-season games this summer due to a chest infection.
Keane's injury is another big setback, however, for Santini, who has had to rule out Wales winger Simon Davies for a month after a shin operation and full-back Stephen Kelly with ankle damage. Midfielder Michael Brown has also been struggling with a knee problem but the blow to Keane, whom Santini identified as one of Tottenham's key men, is by far the worst.
Spurs have won only one of their six pre-season friendlies so far - against non-League Stevenage - and Santini has warned: "We can't repeat the mistakes we made against Rangers for their two goals on Wednesday."
Meanwhile, Spurs have agreed terms with Dutch side Heerenveen for the signing of Swedish international defender Erik Edman. Edman is currently undergoing a medical and the switch is subject to the agreement of personal terms.
The 25-year-old left-back played in all three of his country's group games at Euro 2004 - against Bulgaria, Italy and Denmark.
Spurs are also checking on Edson Rolando Silva Sousa.
The PSV Eindhoven striker is on trial at the club and features in the squad for today's friendly against Nottingham Forest - alongside another triallist, Lens attacker Dagui Bakari.
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