Tottenham Hotspur is reportedly eyeing a £60m ($83m) move for Leicester City playmaker James Maddison. The lack of a creative force in midfield has been one of the many issues at Tottenham this season.
To address this, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is personally taking charge of the move, and he reportedly wants Maddison signed irrespective of who the club’s next permanent manager will be. The logic behind this is that Maddison is of such a calibre that he would be wanted by whoever takes the reins at Tottenham.
Maddison has notched 15 goal contributions in 25 matches for the Foxes this season, and his absence could have made Leicester’s bleak outlook even darker. However, Tottenham is not the only club showing interest in the midfielder. Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Arsenal have also been linked to Maddison over the past seven days.
A report in Spain suggests that Leicester has finally admitted defeat on the idea of retaining Maddison beyond the summer. If the Foxes are relegated (they currently sit 19th), they’ll stand virtually no chance of retaining their star man. However, even if they survive, it’s claimed they’ll reluctantly cash in given an impending contract issue. Maddison’s deal is up in the summer of 2024, and there are no suggestions he’s willing to pen fresh terms.
On the subject of cost, valuations in the region of £50m-£60m have been cited. The upper end of that range would be achievable for Leicester if multiple sides spark a bidding war. However, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has weighed in on what’s in store for Maddison this summer, stating that “for sure” Tottenham is in the mix, but Newcastle is also a contender.
Newcastle has seen multiple bids for Maddison rejected in the past, with the latest totalling £50m last summer. “Tottenham are monitoring James Maddison, for sure,” said Romano. “Also Newcastle has his name on their list since last August as he’s always been appreciated.” However, before Spurs fans can get too excited, Romano seemingly went against the Mail’s claim that Maddison is wanted irrespective of who Tottenham’s next manager is. The reporter continued, “We have to understand who’s going to be the new Tottenham boss to see if they will bid for Maddison, as at the moment it’s on stand-by.”