Tottenham Hotspur has emerged as the frontrunners in the race to sign James Maddison from Leicester City as manager Ange Postecoglou aims to construct a team capable of challenging for the top positions in the Premier League, writes the FFC.
According to The Athletic, Maddison is nearing a move to Tottenham, with Fabrizio Romano supporting the news by stating that chairman Daniel Levy has now “reached an agreement on personal terms” and negotiations are “progressing well.”
Spurs are hoping to secure the services of the 26-year-old England international for a fixed fee of £40m, with potential additional add-ons. However, Leicester City is holding out for a fee of £60m, which is considered excessive given their relegation from the top-flight and Maddison’s remaining one year on his current contract.
Newcastle United had also shown strong interest after an unsuccessful £50m bid last summer. Nevertheless, with the recent €70m deal agreed upon for AC Milan’s Sandro Tonali, Postecoglou’s team now has the upper hand in pursuing the highly sought-after midfielder.
Tottenham has experienced a period of uncertainty and upheaval, highlighted by the departure of Antonio Conte, marking the fourth managerial change in as many years. While Postecoglou’s recent appointment was decisive, the successful implementation of his attractive football philosophy remains to be seen.
The club’s ongoing quest for silverware has been prolonged, exacerbated by their eighth-place finish in the Premier League, which resulted in their failure to qualify for European competitions for the first time since 2009. As a result, the team is in desperate need of a boost of energy and inspiration.
Enter James Maddison. The talented player, earning £110k per week, has been lauded as a “magician” by Statman Dave, and rightfully so. Despite Leicester’s underwhelming season, the three-time capped Englishman impressively contributed ten goals and nine assists in just 28 starts in the top division. His return to form amid a turbulent campaign has only solidified his reputation.
According to FBref, Maddison ranks in the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s major leagues in the past year for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes, and the top 17% for tackles per 90 minutes.