‘We need to act fast’: Arsenal urged to sign £70m English player not at Euros

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The trail has gone a little cold on Arsenal’s reported pursuit of James Maddison.

The Daily Mail claimed in June that Arsenal felt that they were genuine contenders to sign the Leicester City playmaker.

Mikel Arteta and Edu need a creative midfield player this summer after failing to re-sign Martin Odegaard, who spent the second half of last season on loan in North London.

But there hasn’t been much speculation about Maddison for a couple of weeks now.

And former Arsenal midfielder Michael Thomas has told his old side to get their act together, encouraging Arteta and Edu to sign the Foxes star.

He told Caught Offside: “I like Maddison and I am definitely for Arsenal pushing this move through. We need to act fast, and also deal with the other issues in the squad at the same time. Hopefully we can then get the players in for a full pre-season where possible, ready for the first game.”

Can Arsenal afford him?

City would want a reported £70 million for the 24-year-old star.

And although that would make him the Gunners’ second-most expensive signing in history after £72 million Nicolas Pepe, they can afford it.

Well, that’s if you believe the report that Stan Kroenke has made £250 million available for Arteta and Edu to spend this summer.

If that’s true then a move for Maddison – who failed to make England’s squad for Euro 2020 – is genuinely credible but, having failed to sign anybody yet, it remains to be seen if that actually is an accurate estimate.