Why Tottenham should sign James Maddison in the summer window
According to a report in the Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur have added Leicester City playmaker James Maddison to their list of homegrown summer targets. The ex-Norwich City man is seen as an ideal replacement for Christian Eriksen, who may leave Mauricio Pochettino’s team in the summer.
There are growing suggestions that Spanish giants Real Madrid are no longer interested in the Danish international, but Chelsea have entered the race, possibly with Barcelona. Eriksen’s contract expires in the summer of 2020, hence, he will enter the final year of stay at Tottenham in the summer.
The issue for Tottenham is that the 26-year-old hasn’t yet signed a new deal, and things are getting twitchy. Thus, it is looking highly likely that the club would need to dip in the market in order to replace the Dane. Here’s why they should buy Maddison from Leicester:
Maddison has the quality and potential
Despite the fact that this is his first season in England’s top-flight, James Maddison looks at home in the Leicester shirt. He has scored 5 goals and supplied 4 assists in 23 league appearances, making an impact of a player who has all the tools to become something special in the years to come.
The Englishman can play anywhere across the front-line, but is at his best operating behind the striker in a number 10 role, or at the tip of a midfield triangle in a 4-5-1 system.
The 22-year-old’s stats have been incredible, to say the least. He has provided key passes at a rate of 2.5 so far, dribbling past people at an average of 1.3 per game. He is also not shy of having a pop at goal, attempting 2.1 shots on a game by game basis.
Furthermore, Maddison has terrific close-control of the ball in tight situations, allowing him to be a creative chief in the team. He has been dispossessed only 22 times in 23 appearances, which is pretty good for a player who is surrounded by defenders at most times.
All in all, he possesses the traits to replace Christian Eriksen at Tottenham. It’s true that the former Norwich man has to learn a bit before reaching the Dane’s level, but he is not far away.
He is English, so the home-grown quota can be matched. Mauricio Pochettino loves to work with young prodigious talents and make them world-beaters in a short space of time. The Argentine wouldn’t be bemused at the prospect of working with Maddison.
All in all, Tottenham should make a move for the 22-year-old in the summer window. They can do that regardless of what Eriksen opts to do.
Stats via Whoscored.com