James Maddison has responded to speculation regarding his future at Leicester City. The 25-year-old was heavily linked with an exit from the King Power Stadium in the summer, with Tottenham Hotspur said to have been interested in signing him.
football.london understood that Antonio Conte was in the market for a No. 10 before the transfer window slammed shut, with Christian Eriksen and Jesse Lingard among those of interest. According to the Telegraph, Newcastle United tabled a £40million bid for Maddison which was rejected.
Ultimately, a move from the Foxes failed to materialise and Maddison is said to be relieved that speculation has now cooled. Speaking to Sky Sports following Leicester's 6-2 loss to Spurs, the midfielder said: "After it shuts, I think there is a bit of a sigh of relief, especially some of the staff at football clubs.
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"I think it definitely can be [a chance for others to shine after a lack of Leicester signings]. In tough times, you need your big players and your top players to grab the team. And stick the team on your back, at times."
While Spurs may have not wrapped up a deal in the summer, a move in January looks to still be on the cards. According to former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, Maddison 'wanted to leave', with his Leicester deal set to expire in 2024.
"Maddison, he wanted to leave – Newcastle," Wright told The Kelly and Wrighty Show earlier this month, as quoted by ChronicleLive. "It’s about recruitment. They are not signing that player who comes in and has such a massive impact.
"They are not signing a midfielder to come through. Hopefully, [Boubakary] Soumaré might be able to do it. What’s happened is that the players who are there who can inspire good players who come in, they want to leave. So it’s really a catch-22 for them. They’re so close, but it’s not happening, so they’re like: 'I can leave now.'"
Maddison has featured six times for Leicester in the Premier League this season, directly contributing towards four goals. Despite Brendan Rodgers' side struggling in the early stages of the campaign, the Englishman has impressed as he continues to warrant interest in his services.
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