Stan Collymore says joining Tottenham Hotspur is the ‘ideal’ move for James Maddison and the London club, as he questioned whether he would be able to hack it at a club like Manchester United.
The former Premier League striker used Jadon Sancho as an example and how, at such a ‘high-pressured club’, he is ‘shrinking’, which he suggested would happen to James Maddison if he moved to Manchester United.
Collymore also used Mason Mount as an example of someone who can play at Old Trafford because he has already proven it at Chelsea, as he stated that Tottenham are just looking to take the ‘next step’ in their project, as he told CaughtOffside.
Spurs fans won’t care one jot because for years and years now, they have been crying out for someone of the creative talent of Maddison.
Well, they might now get their wish because it has been suggested that Spurs are close to signing the 26-year-old from Leicester City.
If the deal goes through, then it would be a top purchase for new manager Ange Postecoglou, as Collymore shared his thoughts on the Foxes playmaker.
“Someone asked me recently – if Man United are happy to spend £50m on a midfielder and have identified an England international in his mid-20s as the ideal candidate, then why don’t they go for James Maddison from Leicester City?” wrote Collymore.
“It’s a good question, but signing Maddison is a completely different prospect to signing Mount, and I think that’s why we’re seeing the likes of Spurs and Newcastle linked with him, and Man United and Liverpool linked with Mount – and that’s no disrespect to either of the former, but it’s telling of where the sides are in terms of their projects.
“Newcastle are a club looking to build and take the next step, as are Spurs; so a player like Maddison, who has great credentials, such as being a senior England international, is an ideal target.
“However, when it comes to the possibility of him joining a high-pressured club like United or even Liverpool, nobody knows how he’s going to respond yet. Mount, on the other hand, despite being just 24 years old, has already proven he can make that step up. He has a Champions League winner’s medal to prove it.
“Maddison will leave Leicester City as the biggest fish in a small pond, and if he went to Old Trafford, suddenly he’d be a very small fish in an ocean – would he rise to the occasion and thrive off the pressure, or would he shrink? – All you have to do for an example of what the latter looks like is look at Jadon Sancho.”
Maddison would take Tottenham to the next level
After playing a two-man midfield for so long, Spurs are set to revert back to three in the middle with Postecoglou next season and it will benefit their players.
Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentacur when he returns from injury and James Maddison in the middle of the park would be a tasty midfield.
The Englishman would take that midfield up a level, as well as Spurs because Harry Kane wouldn’t have to drop deep so much and the team would be able to sing in a better manner.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
