Gabby Agbonlahor feels Ange Postecoglou has signed the player Tottenham Hotspur have ‘been crying out for’ with Spurs’ transfer of James Maddison from Leicester City.
Tottenham paid Leicester £40m to sign Maddison in June with the England international also agreeing to sign a five-year contract. Spurs exploited the Foxes’ relegation from the Premier League to afford Postecoglou an elite playmaker during his debut campaign in north London.
Maddison left the King Power Stadium having scored 43 goals and assisted a further 34 over 163 top-flight appearances. He has even already added another two assists to his tally this season. The 26-year-old laid on two goals during his debut for Tottenham against Brentford.
Maddison is already Tottenham’s chief creator after his strong debut
Spurs started Postecoglou’s tenure with a 2-2 draw away at the Gtech Community Stadium after coming from behind. Cristian Romero gave Tottenham an early lead after turning home Maddison’s free-kick. While Emerson Royal later equalised to give Maddison a second assist.
Most of Tottenham’s promising attacks at Brentford came through Maddison’s creativity. The three-cap maestro could have even left west London with further assists if Mark Flekken had not denied Richarlison. He also led the north Londoners’ press against the Bees from the off.
Agbonlahor believes Maddison is Eriksen’s long-awaited replacement
Maddison will hope his two assists as Tottenham and Brentford drew lead to his first double-digit top-flight return. The Coventry-born creator recorded his best campaign to date during Leicester’s relegation with nine over 30 outings. He also scored 10 goals for the second time.
Only in 2021/22 when Maddison scored 12 times in 35 games has he rippled the back of the net more often. Postecoglou now having that attacking threat at his disposal has convinced Agbonlahor that Tottenham have the player Spurs have missed since Christian Eriksen’s exit.
“He’s the player that Spurs have been missing,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT. “I’ve watched him for years [and] I watched him against Brentford – he just wants the ball.
“He’s addicted to the ball. That’s who Spurs need – a No10 that wants the ball all the time [and] wants to make things happen. He’s got a set-piece in him, he’s got a goal in him [and] he’s got a great touch in tight spaces to turn and put people through.
“That’s the player that Spurs have been crying out for since they lost Eriksen.”
Inter Milan signed Eriksen from Tottenham in January 2020 for £17m as the Dane was out of contract that summer. He left north London after offering 51 goals and 67 assists across 226 Premier League appearances. His final season for Spurs featured two goals and two assists.
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