Spurs have received a huge transfer boost in their pursuit of James Maddison, with the club eager to add a fresh playmaker to Antonio Conte’s side.
Spurs have been linked with moves for Jesse Lingard, Christian Eriksen, and Nicolo Zaniolo in recent weeks, but one name is now on everyone’s lips: James Maddison.
The Leicester City playmaker has been linked with a transfer this summer following a great season for the Foxes last season, in which he scored 18 goals and provided 12 assists in 52 games across all competitions.
Last season, Maddison’s productivity came close to matching that of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, with several elite teams keeping an eye on the England international.
It is understood that Conte wants to add one or two more new players to his team before the start of the upcoming season, but a transfer for Maddison is improbable at the moment.
According to The Telegraph, Leicester’s present wage-to-turnover ratio is unsustainable, with too many high-paid players wasting their weekends doing nothing on matchdays.
Long-term injuries to Wesley Fofana, James Justin, Jamie Vardy, Jonny Evans, and Wilfried Ndidi, as well as a bad recruiting plan last summer, contributed to the Foxes falling short of expectations last season.
According to the source, Leicester’s financial losses for next year might exceed £90 million based on current forecasts, but the devotion of owners King Power remains unshakeable, and the size of the team and Financial Fair Play are the major issues.
Deals for Noni Madueke and Chelsea’s Levi Colwill have been halted for the time being, and without finances or a reduction in the wage bill, Rodgers cannot move for the players he needs to revitalise his team.
This might give Spurs a big assist in their pursuit of Maddison, with Leicester in desperate need of funds to spend elsewhere in the team.
The 25-year-old has openly indicated his desire to remain at the King Power Stadium, but a contract extension has yet to be agreed upon between the player and the club.
Maddison has only two years left on his present contract and would be a much lower cost next summer.
The Foxes are in a similar predicament with Youri Tielemans, who has drawn interest from Tottenham’s north London rivals Arsenal and Manchester United.
Leicester must decide whether to sell top players like Maddison and reinvest in the team, or to maintain hold of players whose worth would decline if their contracts are not renewed and make no new additions ahead of next season.
The clock is ticking for the Foxes with top clubs patiently waiting in the wings ready to snap up deals for Leicester’s star players.
