Reported Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal target Noni Madueke is a ‘special’ talent who carries the ball like Dutch legend Arjen Robben, former PSV Eindhoven coach Fred Rutten told the Algemeen Dagblad.
After selling top scorer Donyell Malen to Borussia Dortmund – and with captain Denzel Dumfries on his way to Inter Milan – PSV could have done without a barrage of bids for their England U21 whizzkid.
But Madueke’s rip-roaring start to the 2021/22 season has not gone unnoticed.
Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Southampton have all expressed their interest, according to the Standard, while Arsenal are also keeping tabs on the London-born £20 million-rated winger (the Sun).
Madueke may feel that he has unfinished business on the other side of North London, however, with Tottenham looking to re-sign a man who captained their U16 side before heading out to Holland in search of more regular first-team opportunities.
Could Noni Madueke join Spurs’ bitter rivals Arsenal for £20m?
Madueke maintained his eye-catching form with two brilliantly-taken goals as PSV thrashed Ajax 4-0 in the Johan Cruyff Shield on Saturday, and Rutten sees similarities between the 19-year-old and another jet-heeled forward who made his name at the Philips Stadium.
“What is beautiful and special with this player is how he can accelerate when dribbling,” said Rutten, who coached PSV from 2009 to 2012.
“If you’re looking for something that Madueke has in common with Arjen Robben at that age, it’s definitely that. There are many players who are very quick over the first few metres. But only a few can go through the gears with the ball at his feet. That’s a gift.
“The technique (between Madueke and Robben) is completely different. It was actually very special with Arjen. He constantly kept the ball very close to him.
“The first time you saw him, you always thought ‘He’s going to trip over’. But that never happened.
“(But) Madueke has everything to go far. His right foot is also very well developed, for example. You saw that against Ajax with his second goal.”
According to the Sun, PSV had hoped that a £20 million price-tag would keep his suitors at arms’ lengths.
But that was before Madueke took Galatasaray apart, filleted Midtjylland and then handed out a rare beating to the usually-indestructible Ajax. Suddenly, that £20 million asking price is starting to look like a bargain.
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