Arsenal have identified James Maddison as a potential target to fill their creative void in the midfield but the Gunners are yet to strike a deal with Leicester City, journalist Fabrizio Romano told Benchwarmers.
The Foxes signed the midfielder from Aston Villa back in 2018. Since then, he has been an integral part of the team with 118 appearances, scoring 27 goals and registering 20 assists in the process.
Injuries have hindered his development last season and despite his injury woes, the youngster still managed 21 goal contributions across all competitions.
Sky Sports recently claimed that Leicester are expecting a fee in excess of £70million to consider a move for the 24-year-old. They are under no pressure to sell the midfielder as his contract does not expire until 2024.
This hefty price tag has proved to be an obstacle in the North Londoners’ pursuit for the England international, as per Fabrizio Romano. The journalist claims Maddison is highly rated by the club but negotiations have currently stalled. They are also actively exploring other options as feasible alternatives. Speaking to Benchwarmers, he said:
“Arsenal, on the other hand, have no agreement with Leicester for James Maddison: the player is highly appreciated by the club but there are still no advanced negotiations, the price is very high.”
Speculations intensified when the Englishman was left out of the squad for Leicester’s clash against QPR yesterday. However, Brendan Rodgers claimed that the decision was not transfer-related. He said(via Metro):
“James [Maddison] was going to play but his partner Kennedy went into labour. Family is more important than football. I haven’t heard any news yet but hopefully, he’ll become a father today, if he’s not already.”
Arsenal Fever View:
The Emirates club have faced a lot of criticism for lacking creativity in the final third last season. They just mustered 55 goals in the Premier League, and to put this into perspective the champions, Manchester City, have a whopping tally of 83 goals.
While Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette can be partly blamed for this, the major reason was the Gunners’ inability to create clear-cut chances. The 24-year-old will undoubtedly add a creative spark to the team with his wide passing range. He can dribble past defenders and has an eye for goal. He also possesses the remarkable skill to deliver teasing crosses from set-pieces.
While the Gunners have found a talented playmaker in Emile Smith Rowe, it is important to note that he is still very young and lacks the experience of playing in the Premier League. The Leicester man could work in tandem with the Arsenal youngster in the midfield area. However, securing the services of Maddison could be a herculean task, especially considering his price tag and Leicester’s stance on the transfer.
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