Arsenal are keen on making Championship player James Maddison their first signing this summer, according to reports in Birmingham Live.
The Norwich midfielder was named in the English Football League’s team of the season and their manager Daniel Farke described him as “outstanding”. Maddison has been a target for both Arsenal and Liverpool but it seems Arsenal are in the driving seat.
The 21-year-old English midfielder has been prolific and has created a stunning 26 goals this season through 15 goals and 11 assists. He has also been dangerous from set-pieces and has become Norwich’s set-piece taker at a very young age.
Maddison played for a brief time in Scotland at Aberdeen and has played in the English lower leagues with Coventry and now Norwich. These experiences have enabled him to become a tough, resilient midfield player with unmatched flair.
Of his time in Scotland, he said “I got kicked a lot up there” while discussing how being in the lower leagues have helped him develop as a strong player.
With an already robust midfield and Jack Wilshere reportedly signing a new long-term contract with Arsenal, it is hard to see where Maddison would fit in at Arsenal. It is likely that along with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Maddison could be a regular substitute next season and a world-class player in the future.
With the return of Santi Cazorla, a brilliant season from Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere working his way back into the Arsenal squad and Granit Xhaka continuing to build himself into a strong presence on the pitch, many fans are asking whether we need a new midfielder, but it is always important to invest in players for the future.
Who the new manager is will have a massive impact on what transfers are carried out in this summer’s transfer window and we can only wait to see who is Arsene Wenger’s replacement before knowing what transfers will take place.
