Danny Murphy has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United transfer target James Maddison looked ‘sharp’ for Leicester City at the weekend.
Leicester recorded a 2-2 draw against Brentford on Sunday, with Maddison supplying an assist for Timothy Castagne’s opening goal and Murphy added that the Englishman ‘looked hungry’, as he told MOTD2.
The 2022 summer transfer window slams shut on September 1 and there are a number of clubs keen to sign him up, including Tottenham and Newcastle, as reported by 90min.
Well, Maddison would have only impressed those teams even further by his opening performance of the new Premier League season because he was outstanding.
It will be interesting to see if the rumoured £60 million tag on his head does increase during these coming weeks because the Foxes will not want to lose such a key player this summer.
Nonetheless, former Spurs midfielder Murphy bigged up the player for starting the new season where he left off from the 2021/22 campaign.
“Maddison finished last season tremendously well,” said Murphy. “And now he has carried it on.
“He looked sharp, he looked hungry and was a goal threat. He is a super technician. Maddison has had his fair share of injuries and problems off the pitch.
“But it looks like he has his head screwed on now and is looking like the player that we all thought he was going to be. When he is at it, then he makes Leicester a better team.
“I feel he is one of the few players who can break into that England squad for the World Cup coming up. If you look at his numbers, they are up there with the best of them. And his set plays have always been quality.
“He is one of those confident players. A game-changer, who can also come off the bench and win you a game. He sees a pass and he’s not afraid of playing with both feet. He has brilliant attributes.”
CAN MADDISON EARN ENGLAND CALL?
That’s going to be the big aim for Maddison during these coming months because his performances so far haven’t earned him that call by Gareth Southgate.
He scored 12 Premier League goals last season and only Harry Kane has more goal contributions than Maddison in 2022.
The question has to be asked as to why Southgate hasn’t even taken a look at him because his performances, at the very least, deserve acknowledgement.
Before the 2022 World Cup hits everyone’s TV screens, there will be one international break which will say a lot about what squad will be picked.
If Maddison isn’t called up for those matches, then he will have no chance of making the cut for Qatar, but perhaps a move away and playing Champions League football during these coming months might change that.
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