OPINION
Daily Mirror journalist John Cross is surely on the money when he says that clubs must be prepared to spend a”hell of a lot” in order to sign Leicester City midfielder James Maddison.
Speaking on talkSPORT‘s Hawksbee and Jacobs programme [Tuesday, 2:20pm], the newspaper’s chief football writer said that should other clubs maintain their reported interest in the 22-year-old, they will have to spend big.
“He finished the season in magnificent fashion with Leicester. I think he’s proving what a fabulous player he is. I think he’ll benefit from working under Brendan Rodgers, who’s great at nurturing young players,” Cross said.
“I tend to think Leicester will dig their heels in, because if there’s one player to go, maybe that might be Harry Maguire. I think it would take a huge offer and I’m not sure that Leicester are a club that need to sell.
“I think there’ll be a lot of clubs looking at Maddison, and I know for a fact that Leicester are absolutely determined to keep him, so I don’t know at what price Leicester might be tempted.
“But I think it would take a hell of a lot, because this is a super player. There’s so much growth in him yet, he’s got eyes in the back of his head when it comes to seeing passes and he’s a really exceptional talent.”
One club who are reportedly interested in signing Maddison is Manchester United, who are said to be in pole position [The Independent] – ahead of Tottenham – in the race to snap up the Leicester man.
But regardless of that supposed interest, you would have to think Cross is right here. Maddison is a very good talent with both Premier League and international experience under his belt, and with him being only 22, he will only get better.
The problem is, Rodgers is building something at Leicester, with Maddison’s compatriots Ben Chilwell and Harry Maguire also proving their worth for the Foxes.
If the club can keep the trio around, they will become a formidable force and – as Cross says – Leicester are currently in no position where they feel they need to sell.
They wouldn’t want to do that, either, because the English trio can form the bedrock of a very good Leicester side if they stay there. But every player has their price, and there is definitely a sum the Foxes would accept for attacker Maddison.
What that is remains to be seen, but from the Independent report, you would not bet against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side testing the water with a bid. But it will surely have to be a big one if they have any chance of signing Maddison.
The attacking midfielder is exactly the kind of player the Norwegian boss wants at Old Trafford next season – someone young but with great talent who can go on to become a key part of his team.
The England Under-21 international fits the bill exactly, and it will be very interesting to see where the player will be plying his trade come the start of August.