Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified James Maddison as their desired replacement for Christian Eriksen.
The Danish international’s chances of leaving the club in the summer are apparently high. As a result, the Lilywhites have set their sights on Leicester City star Maddison – as reported by Mirror.
Spurs are believed to be long-time admirers of Maddison, who is having an excellent debut campaign with the Foxes this season and a big money move could be on the horizon in the summer.
James Maddison: The ideal player for Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur have largely struggled without the services of Christian Eriksen this season, especially with Dele Alli amassing only 1,199 minutes of league action so far.
Eriksen has been involved in 12 goals in the league while the former Ajax starlet has also delivered 42 key passes this season – more than any other player in the team. This is a clear testament to his importance at Tottenham and his departure could be a huge blow for the Lilywhites.
The addition of someone like Maddison, therefore, would be imperative for Mauricio Pochettino’s men. The Leicester City playmaker has emerged as a vital cog in Claude Puel’s attacking setup this season, helping the Foxes maintain their mid-table status in the league.
Much like Eriksen, the 22-year-old is primarily known for his creativity. He can conjure opportunities for his team in the final third, where his excellent vision and a knack for finding that killer through pass has often aided his team this campaign.
In fact, Maddison has averaged more key passes(2.5) than Eriksen(2.4) this season while the English international has also been involved in nine goals in 23 games. Therefore, the former Norwich star, aside from providing the creative essence in the final third, will also be able to add more productivity in the Tottenham attack.
Another fascinating feature of Maddison’s overall game is his versatility as the 22-year-old can be utilized as a winger as well as a central attacking midfielder.
This will surely help Pochettino in accommodating Maddison into his attacking setup, where the Leicester star can be deployed as a wide midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation if and when required.
Alternatively, Maddison can team up with Alli in the attacking midfield slots should the Argentine employ a wing-back system.
Although Maddison may not be an ideal replacement for Eriksen in terms of quality at the moment, his versatility and productivity in the final third will help Tottenham become much more comprehensive in attack and considering his tender age, he’ll be an excellent long-investment for the Lilywhites.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored