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Talented technician James Maddison is among a long list Leicester’s star players expected to leave the club this summer following the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship and two of the Premier League’s big-hitters are believed to be battling it out for his signature.
Maddison is an established top-flight performer and the 26-year-old managed to keep his individual numbers high during the 2022/23 campaign despite Leicester’s dismal overall showing in the division.
The attacking midfielder managed to score ten goals in 28 starts in the Premier League last term and Maddison also chipped in with an impressive tally of nine assists during the same period.
Maddison’s consistent output in the final third has put him on the radar of several leading Premier League clubs and a transfer scramble for his services is already under way.
Newcastle and Tottenham leading chase for Maddison
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are believed to be best positioned to sign Maddison during the transfer window, though they have competition from Tottenham, who are keen to show some ambition in the market following the appointment of Ange Postecoglou.
The Magpies initially showed interest in Maddison back in January, though their attempts to land the schemer in the new year were thwarted by Leicester, who were understandably reluctant to let their star turn leave with their top tier status under threat.
Tottenham’s squad meanwhile, is expected to undergo major surgery this summer following Ange Postecoglou’s arrival from Celtic and Maddison is among their primary targets as they brace themselves for an extensive rebuild.
Newcastle can offer Maddison Champions League football however after their recent fourth-place finish, something that is likely to appeal to the playmaker.
Maddison has just one year left on his current contract with Leicester and the Foxes are believed to have accepted his desire to seek out a new challenge following their demotion.
Maddison’s creativity is highly coveted
James Maddison has been one of the Premier League’s most consistently creative players in recent seasons, something that is backed up from several statistical angles.
Since the 2018/19 season – which was his first year in the Premier League following his move to Leicester from Norwich – Maddison ranks third for total chances created, while the inventive passer also ranks a healthy seventh for big chances manufactured.
When it comes to assists, only seven players have lodged more than Maddison’s 32 since 2018, while the lethal operator also shows up well for shots (4th).
Last term, only Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne and Kieran Tripper posted more key passes per game than Maddison, which is a remarkable stat given Leicester’s overall plight in the league.
Maddison was also a top ten ranker for average shots per game, though only a handful of his Premier League counterparts collected more bookings (ten) than he did.
The 26-year-old has finished each of his last three campaigns with double-figure goals in all competitions for Leicester and both Newcastle and Tottenham are thought to value Maddison’s productivity.
The defence-splitter could provide plenty of ammunition for United’s Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak, while Spurs’ dynamic duo Harry Kane and Song Heung-min would also benefit from Maddison’s ability to thread a pass.
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