James Maddison transfer links have resurfaced and if the rumours become a reality, the 25-year-old could become Tottenham’s seventh signing of the summer. Antonio Conte has already welcomed Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence to his squad, ahead of the 2022/23 season. Leicester aren’t likely to sell the 25-year-old unless they receive an offer which is too good to turn down, so it may not be the most likely to deal to happen. However, Maddison may be encouraged to make the move, based on his comments in 2020.
James Maddison said: “I think with Leicester, we were so close to Champions League football last season and when I was a kid, we used to have Champions League nights and I always wanted to play in the Champions League. We missed out last year unfortunately but that European aim is a steady process. We are on a journey with the manager and the squad. You can’t just jump. Champions League football would be lovely but as cliché as it sounds, we need to take it game by game. Personally, I just want to keep getting better. I feel as though I am getting better with each season. More experience, more maturity and my numbers have been going up each season at Leicester. Hopefully, I can improve on that again,” Maddison added.
The Foxes haven’t made it into the Champions League since the England international’s comments and finished just outside the European places last season. On Saturday, Brendan Rodgers’ side drew to Leuven in a pre-season friendly, but he made a positive admission about Maddison.
Brendan Rodgers said: “James Maddison, it’s the best I’ve seen him, in the three-and-a-half years I’ve been at Leicester. He looks now really physically strong, technically confident and tactically, his view of the game is outstanding.”