Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made initial contact with Leicester City regarding the possibility of signing midfielder James Maddison – but is he what the north London club need?
Football Insider write that the Englishman will cost in the region of £60m after impressing for the Foxes last season.
Maddison scored seven goals and seven assists in the top flight following a £22.5m move from Norwich City, enhancing his reputation as one of the country’s brightest young prospects.
In comparison, Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen only fared slightly better, finding the back of the net eight times and laying on 12 goals for his team-mates.
Although the 22-year-old does not yet have the ability and experience of Eriksen, there is no doubt he could reach those levels should he continue on his current trajectory.
The ex-Coventry city man has the ability to beat a man with ease, gliding past his opponents and firing off quick passes in order to build attacks.
In addition, he is excellent in set-piece situations, scoring three free-kicks last season, and is also not the type to shirk his defensive responsibilities, showing resilience in tackling and somewhat of a nasty streak.
Furthermore, his ability to transition between positions makes him difficult for defenders to track and when they do follow him, it creates space for his team-mates to exploit.
Signing Maddison would allow Mauricio Pochettino to develop a fantastic young talent and also provide competition for the likes of Dele Alli and Lucas Moura, spurring them on and creating a higher quality group.
Although £60m is a substantial fee the midfielder is probably worth it in today’s inflated transfer market, especially considering the fact Spurs are set to receive a significant windfall for reaching the final of the Champions League.
