Where next for Newcastle and Tottenham target James Maddison?
Leicester may have been relegated, but one player on the Foxes books - for now at least - who is unlikely to play a single minute in the Championship next season is James Maddison. The England international was superb for Leicester last season, scoring 10 and providing nine assists, returning a WhoScored rating of 7.24, that ranking 15th in the division, in the process.
Leicester will demand a hefty fee for Maddison this summer, but interest in his services is understandably high. Here, we take a look at the teams keen on the 26-year-old as those in the upper echelons of the Premier League ready their move for Maddison.
Eddie Howe worked wonders to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League last season as Newcastle guaranteed Champions League football with a game to spare. The Magpies are perhaps a little ahead of schedule in their quest to dominate English football, but few at St. James' Park will complain about a season that saw Newcastle land a European finish and reach a cup final.
However, Newcastle can ill-afford to rest on their laurels. They need to strengthen in relevant areas, one of which is in the final third. Kieran Trippier made more key passes (110) than any other Newcastle player in the Premier League last season, but second in this metric was Bruno Guimares (42). A player to bridge this particular gap would be perfect.
Maddison ranked 10th for chances created (69) in England's top tier last term, an impressive haul for this relegated Leicester outfit. Not only does Maddison have the vision to pry apart a defence, his versatility is another added bonus. Able to play as the more advanced midfielder in a 4-3-3, in the number 10 role or out wide, it's little reason Newcastle are keen to land the creative star this summer.
The appointment of Ange Postecoglou this week means Tottenham can prepare for the summer window with a manager in charge. A lot of work needs to be done at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium after they failed to land a European finish, yet there is at least a plan in place to help with the rebuild.
Spurs did have a fair spread of creators in the squad, with 10 players reaching double figures for key passes in England's top tier last term, but that Son Heung-Min, with just 61, ranked top for chances created highlights what was lacking in north London last term. Spurs have held a long-standing interest in Maddison, however they will be aware of increased competition in his signature.
There are a number of problem areas that need addressing at the club, notably a new goalkeeper, centre-back or two and a potential replacement for Harry Kane should he leave this summer, yet a creative midfielder should be high on the wishlist. The lack of European football could prove a stumbling block, but Maddison would be the ideal addition to tick off the homegrown quota and link the midfield and attack.
Like Tottenham, Manchester United have a greater need to strengthen elsewhere in the off-season. A new goalkeeper should be high on the priority list following David De Gea's poor FA Cup final showing, while Erik ten Hag's side are very much looking to land another centre-back, as evidenced by links with moves for Kim Min-Jae and Axel Disasi.
United too have been monitoring Maddison, but while he'd likely operate more centrally for Spurs, chances are Ten Hag may look to use the Leicester star from the wing. The Dutchman already has the ideal number 10 in Bruno Fernandes, who made more key passes (119) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues last season.
However, again referring back to Maddison's versatility, this could benefit United and allow both Maddison and Fernandes to interchange in the final third throughout a game. Both players are experienced in operating through the middle and down the right, and by constantly chopping and changing in attack, this would have the potential to wreak havoc upon opposition defences.
Arsenal are expected to sign more than one midfielder this summer to ease Granit Xhaka's expected Bundesliga switch and add strength in depth in a key area of the pitch ahead of the Champions League return. Xhaka was given license to get forward from midfield over the season and this saw the Swiss star score five and provide an additional seven assists, respective returns a replacement will need to put up to limit the damage caused by his departure.
West Ham star Declan Rice is the number one midfield target for Arsenal, and the impression now is that he'll leave for pastures new sooner rather than later, especially after Hammers supremo David Gold confirmed the 24-year-old can leave this summer. That said, Rice can't be the only midfield arrival at the Emirates, and a player of Maddison's ilk and attacking output would certainly help cover Xhaka's move away.
While he is more familiar with operating in an advanced role, the freedom granted by head coach Mikel Arteta for both Xhaka and Martin Odegaard to get forward would undoubtedly boost Arsenal's attack. The Gunners scored 88 league goals last season. With Maddison in midfield, what's to say they couldn't breach the 100-goal barrier in another title push.
Liverpool on Thursday confirmed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister, and the Argentine is expected to be the first of a few new central midfield signings at Anfield this summer. Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone are two others linked with a move to the Reds, but whereas the latter pair are more defensive minded, Maddison could provide the perfect link between the midfield and attack in Jurgen Klopp's favoured 4-3-3 setup.
The Reds' preferred method of attack is by maximising the offensive qualities of full-backs Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The latter's change in role towards the end of the season saw Liverpool reap the rewards, as Alexander-Arnold ended the campaign with nine assists to his name, seven of which came from the 2-2 draw with Arsenal in April onwards, when it became noticeable that the 24-year-old was operating in midfield.
It would be ideal, then, if a player of Maddison's ilk could operate on the right side of Klopp's midfield trio to allow Alexander-Arnold to carry out his right-back duties and stretch opponents. Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago between them created fewer goalscoring chances (65) than Maddison managed, so a creative alternative would ease the burden on the Liverpool full-backs.
With Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic set to leave this summer, this opens up space for another attacking midfielder at Chelsea. The Blues have been linked with a move for Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga, but the former's impending exit means Chelsea may have to add another English player to fill the homegrown quota.
While Maddison won't come cheap, Todd Boehly has shown a willingness to loosen the purse strings after rocking up at Stamford Bridge last summer. It's set to be another active transfer window for Chelsea following Mauricio Pochettino's appointment, and Maddison could prove a quality addition to the frontline.
That being said, Chelsea do have other priorities at present. A striker, central midfielder and potentially a new goalkeeper are high on the wishlist, and another attacking player to add to an already bloated frontline is unlikely to sit well with the options already at Pochettino's disposal.
