Arsenal could yet renew their interest with Leicester City prepared to cash in on James Maddison.
The Foxes playmaker was linked with a switch to the Emirates back in the summer, but his club had no interest in selling. That could now change however, with Leicester weighing up whether to cash in as they seek to raise funds for a summer revamp at the King Power.
Brendan Rodgers inherited Maddison after the 25-year-old was signed from Norwich City for a reported £20m back in the summer of 2018. The Englishman has been a hugely influential figure for Leicester, but would command a hefty fee which could benefit the overall look of the squad.
Leicester have invested wisely since their Premier League triumph in 2016, but the impact of Covid means they may have to move players on before they can bring in any new faces. Rodgers is looking to add a centre-half, a midfielder and a forward in the coming months, reports the Daily Mail.
Maddison has made 40 appearances this term, scoring 13 times, which underlines his importance, and he wouldn't be short of admirers. Arsenal were keen before they signed Martin Odegaard but they also have Emile Smith Rowe on their books, which may lessen their interest in the Leicester man.
The Foxes star has enjoyed an impressive year after seeking more consistency in his game with the World Cup still on his radar having previously been picked by Gareth Southgate. He said on Sky Sports : "It’s just about showing more consistency and affecting games more. My numbers have always been good, it’s just about finding the consistency.
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"I’m feeling really good, really confident, and I’m going into games with that confidence. As an English player, the World Cup is the pinnacle. I always think what I can do better to get into the squad. All I can do is keep playing the way I’m playing and keep knocking on the door."
Maddison has previously been linked with a move to Manchester United. However, he signed a new four-year deal back in October 2020. He claimed upon penning his fresh deal: "There's so much more to come from this team." The Foxes have finished fifth in successive seasons but have struggled this term.
Leicester are also facing major decisions regarding Youri Tielemans, who has one year left on his contract as interest mounts elsewhere. Ryan Bertrand, Daniel Amartey and Hamza Choudhury will all enter the final 12 months of their deals this summer.
