Leicester City star James Maddison is on Arsenal's radar ahead of the summer transfer window, as per the Mirror.
Mikel Arteta's side were heavily linked with a move for Maddison back in the summer of 2021 before Sporting Director Edu eventually sanctioned a deal to sign now-captain Martin Odegaard instead. Since then, Odegaard has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, netting 15 league goals and providing a further seven assists this term.
However, the likes of Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe have both struggled to make a meaningful impact over the course of the 2022/23 campaign, meaning Odegaard has shouldered much of the creative burden as a result. Now, it is claimed that the Gunners could potentially remedy this by allowing Smith Rowe to leave this summer, with Maddison said to still be of interest as a potential replacement for the Hale End academy graduate.
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The Leicester playmaker has notched ten goals and nine assists this season, as per Transfermarkt. But he was left out of Dean Smith's starting line-up on Monday night as the Foxes drew 0-0 in a crucial Premier League clash against Newcastle United. That result left Maddison and Co languishing in the relegation zone, in need of a win on the final day of the season if his side have any chance of beating the drop.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher discussed Smith's decision to drop the attacking midfielder along with making a major transfer claim. "Of course it’s gamble but they’re at the stage now where he’s got to change something," Carragher said on Leicester's change in formation which resulted in the England international being left out.
"He can’t just continue picking the same team so I actually admire the fact that he’s made a bold decision. Yeah, it’ll make a lot of people sit up and take notice but he doesn’t owe these players anything.
"If they go down he’s not going to be there next season, James Maddison won’t be there next season if they go down or stay up, I don’t feel to be honest, so I admire the fact he’s made big changes. I’d have still tried to find a place for James Maddison in that set-up - maybe for (Youri) Tielemans in midfield - because he can provide you a goal or assist. We’ve seen those numbers this season but he had to change something."
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