Tottenham Hotspur would ‘love’ to sign James Maddison but the Leicester City ace would not be guaranteed a place in Arsenal’s starting XI these days, former Premier League striker Darren Bent tells talkSPORT (7 March, 5pm).
If this is indeed set to be Maddison’s final season at the King Power Stadium, then expect the battle for his signature to be a fierce one.
Arguably the finest talent outside of the Premier League’s traditional ‘top six’, Maddison’s nine goals and five assists so far this term only scratched the surface of his influence.
The Foxes want £60 million for the England international, according to The Telegraph. Such a fee is unlikely to put off Newcastle United – Eddie Howe’s side reportedly installing Maddison as their number one summer target – while Tottenham could also put their hands in their pocket with so many of Antonio Conte’s key creators struggling for form.
Will James Maddison end up at Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur?
Whether Arsenal make a move of their own remains to be seen. The Gunners appear to be prioritising an attacking midfielder; Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga and Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Brandt on their radar.
But it’s a sign of the times at the Emirates that a player of Maddison’s outrageous talents, according to Bent, would struggle to force his way into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI these days.
“Spurs would love him,” says Bent, the former Spurs striker. “He can come to Arsenal. Come and sit on the bench at Arsenal! (Would he get into Arteta’s XI) Not right now.”
Bent, meanwhile, believes that Maddison would slot in neatly at Newcastle United, Chelsea and Tottenham.
“I don’t know if he fits in at Manchester City. But certainly Spurs, Newcastle, and Chelsea.”
‘He is a Champions League player’
Leicester’s remarkable decline under Brendan Rodgers this term may be enough to convince the former Norwich City playmaker that the time is right for a fresh start; Maddison now closer to the Championship than he is the Champions League.
“He’s a super talent,” ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told talkSPORT last year. “I understand Newcastle’s interest.
“Newcastle will quickly overtake (Leicester). He’s earning a lot of money at Leicester, but I’d be tempted if I was him.
“Is he good enough? Yes. He’s a Champions League player. He has all of the qualities needed to play Champions League and international football.”
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