Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a gutting blow in their pursuit of James Maddison…
What’s the word?
The north London outfit have been linked with interest in the England midfielder for much of the summer transfer window.
GIVEMESPORT transfer insider Dean Jones revealed that Spurs had “touched base over Maddison” last month, whilst he also claimed to ‘The Done Deal Show‘ that the 25-year-old was keen to join them amid interest from Premier League rivals Newcastle United.
However, it seems unlikely that a move will happen before deadline day on September 1st as the Coventry-born maestro is in talks with Leicester City over a new contract.
The Daily Mail believe that the Foxes have been keen to tie him down to an extension to his £100k-per-week deal for a while and manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that negotiations are ongoing.
“I believe they’ve spoken. Yeah, Jon [Rudkin, director of football] has spoken to them a number of times, yes,” he said. “I’m pretty sure the club would want to do that. Both sides have to be able to find an agreement.
“With James, with two years left, naturally the club would want to protect the asset. But it works both ways. Sometimes, everything goes onto the club.”
Who should Spurs sign now?
Gutting news for Conte
This will come as frustrating, if not gutting news to Lilywhites head coach Antonio Conte for a number of reasons.
It’s believed that the trophy-hungry Italian is on the lookout for a creative midfielder to bolster his squad before the end of the window in less than two weeks’ time
And Maddison is a player that he is said to hugely admire.
“It’s absolutely true that Conte likes the player a lot,” claimed CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs to GIVEMESPORT, and it’s easy to see why.
The one-time England international enjoyed a phenomenal campaign last season, where he provided the Midlands side with an eye-catching 18 goals and 12 assists across 53 appearances in all competitions – a rate of one contribution every 120 minutes, as per Transfermarkt.
Those are the sorts of numbers that Christian Eriksen (one goal or assist every 151 minutes) was once putting up in N17, the sort of figures that Spurs have long lacked since the Dane’s departure in January 2020.
Some reports had suggested that the Leicester dynamo, who has been lauded as “a special talent” by The Times’ chief football correspondent Henry Winter, would be available for £50m this window.
Also dubbed a “genius” in the past by BBC Norfolk presenter Rob Butler, it’s evident that Maddison would have been quite the signing for Spurs, particularly given his already-proven experience in the Premier League and evident threat in the final third.
However, the Lilywhites will have to move onto other targets as it appears as if he will now extend his stay at the King Power Stadium for the foreseeable future in what is a big blow to Conte and his plans.
AND in other news, Paratici could repeat his Romero masterstroke in Spurs swoop for £25m-rated “cannon”…
