James Maddison

[HildoSpur]

Possibility this one also. Not cast iron, but very possible

Blimey!

 

[Dakes]

Where's that coming from? That Conte doesn't rate him much...

Almost certain I've read it in one of the ITK updates. Will try to find it.

 

[Dakes]

@Trix i think but he didn’t say he didn’t rate him just that he’s not his pick.

Yeah, that's it. More that he's not top of Conte's list.

 

[paige09]

Would imagine signing Spence drives his price down. Dont think arsenal can afford and not a priority for the other big 6.

 

[Yiddo100]

With all the information about Spence being key to other targets, I’d be surprised if our AM was homegrown

 

[Ghost Hardware]

@Trix i think but he didn’t say he didn’t rate him just that he’s not his pick.

Still find it curious that we would bring in Djed who is also not necessarily his top pick to sort out our HG issues and then go and spend big on an AM who is HG and also not his pick. Surely it would make more sense to bring in a top Conte pick for at least one of those two positions.

 

[shoggy33]

Surely leicester won't sell Maddison and Tielemans? Would love this to happen but just can't see it.

 

[djhotspur]

Still find it curious that we would bring in Djed who is also not necessarily his top pick to sort out our HG issues and then go and spend big on an AM who is HG and also not his pick. Surely it would make more sense to bring in a top Conte pick for at least one of those two positions.

Yeah I would imagine it would but maybe he’s been offered maddison and is on board. Maybe the foreign options are too expensive and maddison is prem proven

 

[greavesy461]

I’d be surprised if Conte isn’t very supportive of Maddison unless he’s worried about budget elsewhere. Prob the best HG AM in the league.

 

[rajmak]

Does anyone think we may have interest in Fabian Ruiz? Trix mentioned previously we were looking at two midfielders in Italy whom weren't Italian. I think there was also some cryptic relating to Napoli? Ruiz has 1 year left on this current deal and doesn't appear like he will be signing an extension. Seems to play in that deep lying creative midfielder role

 

[SpartanSpur]

All for this one if possible. Always wanted him as our Eriksen replacement, his ability to score from long range with either foot reminds me of Golazo. He'd really round off our attacking options and make a 3-5-2 possible.

I wonder if the supposed Paqueta price (£55m) and the lack a viable LCB options has brought this one back into play. I'd guess this would probably be £10-15m more than that.

I'm sure his agents would be very accommodating to the move after getting Richarlison over to us.

 

[Singaspursofsixspence]

Obligatory YouTube compilation

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Where's that coming from? That Conte doesn't rate him much...

It was in the Spence thread a few days ago, Trix I believe. It wasn’t that he doesn’t rate him, just that Maddison, JWP and Spence were not his top choices but that we had to bring in one HG out of the final three spots and Spence was deemed the most logical from a price position and Conte was happy to compromise on that position knowing the situation. Assumption being that we would get Spence this allowing us to get a non HG AM and CD who were his top picks. But who knows for sure and things change all the time.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Obligatory YouTube compilation

Leicester score a lot of pretty goals.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Anyone got his defensive stats, work rate etc? Curious to know how he’d fit in in that regard.

 

[Mr Pink]

Maybe we feel the value for Maddison is too good to turn down given his impressive output.

He's proven in this league and those incredible stats from last season are just more appealing than an expensive risk outside the PL.

And of course that allows us to go big in the CB position.

 

[goughie1966]

Leicester haven’t signed anyone yet. Do they have financial issues?

On their forum it’s been said they have 28 players for a 25 man premier league squad. They’ve got to sell before they buy. Many are complaining they’ve got too many players on high wages they can’t shift. Someone posted a list of players that have cost £200m in the last 6 years that have been poor buys.

The owner is in town now apparently and they believe this may kick start some transfers. Interestingly their transfer rumours section doesn’t have a page for Maddison. Not that I could find anyway. if there is there hasn’t been a post since May.

However on his player page there’s compliments on him keeping fit over the summer and returning to training it top shape and many think he will be even better this season. He seems to have got his act together after the birth of his first child and settled down a bit. Last summer he was on the piss in Ibiza.

There’s a debate as to whether they have an automatic option to extend his contract this summer. Some are convinced ITK have said there is, others disagree.

 

[ShriekinKnight]

With all the information about Spence being key to other targets, I’d be surprised if our AM was homegrown

Well if Royal isn't being sold that means we have 1 international spot left in Champions League squad and 2 Nation HG spots. So Spence + Maddison + International CB would make sense

 

[Dean]

He's going to LOVE the new away kit.

Can wear it when he goes boogie boarding.

 

[dirtyh]

Would have to be a good price then. Pretty sure it was the case if spence came we’d go for a European am.