Arsenal are reportedly keen on bringing Leicester City midfielder James Maddison to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
Mikel Arteta wants to address his team’s creativity problems of last season by signing a playmaker. The Spaniard’s priority is to re-sign Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard, who made a real impact on a short loan spell at the Emirates Stadium after arriving in January.
However, it looks likely that Odegaard will remain at Real Madrid and compete for a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s team this season.
According to Football London, Arsenal are looking at James Maddison as a potential alternative to Odegaard and have proposed a player plus cash deal to Leicester City. The major stumbling block for the Gunners, however, is Leicester City’s valuation of over £60million for the English midfielder.
But the north London giants are ready to offer players in the deal to make the transfer fee practical. Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah are among the players transfer-listed this summer, although it remains to be seen who has been offered to sweeten the deal.
James Maddison, 24, was a vital cog in Brendan Rodgers’ exciting Leicester side that qualified for the Europa League after finishing fifth last term. Despite some injury problems, the England international, who signed a contract extension 12 months ago, registered eight goals and seven assists in 31 league appearances to enjoy the best Premier League campaign of his career so far.
James Maddison to Arsenal—The right option for Arteta?
Since taking over the managerial reins at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s emphasis during recruitment has been on bringing in a younger profile of players. The signings of Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ben White in this transfer window further justify the transfer strategy adopted by the Gunners under Arteta.
In that regard, James Maddison fits tidily into the profile of players Arteta wants at the Emirates Stadium. The one-cap England international has mightily impressed since arriving at Leicester City from Norwich City in the summer of 2018. In 98 Premier League outings, his numbers (21 goals and 17 assists) for the Foxes are impressive.
A versatile player who can play in various positions across the midfield, Maddison is at his sublime best when operating from the number 10 role. The former Norwich City star possesses the ability to thread passes through the eye of a needle, link play, create opportunities for his teammates and score goals.
With Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey potentially behind him in Arsenal’s midfield, the 24-year-old would get the license to knit play and carve open the opposition defence. In addition, he’s also a dead-ball expert, which is certain to benefit Arteta’s young side in many ways.
At 24, Maddison definitely has the best years ahead of him, and if he can bring the form he’s shown at Leicester, then he would be a long-term asset for Arsenal.