Why Leicester City’s James Maddison would be a vital addition for Arsenal
As reported by Leicestershire Live, former Arsenal and Leicester striker Kevin Campbell has urged the North London outfit to make a move for Leicester City midfielder James Maddison in the summer transfer window.
Maddison came through the youth ranks at Coventry City. The attacking midfielder made the move to Norwich City on loan in February 2016 before joining them permanently in the summer that year. After a brief loan stint at Aberdeen, the Englishman grew into a key member at Carrow Road.
After making 53 appearances for the Canaries, in which he scored 16 goals and created 10 more, Maddison joined Leicester in 2018. During his time with the Foxes, the 23-year-old has grown into one of the most effective attacking midfielders in the Premier League. In 73 matches so far, Maddison has scored 16 goals and assisted 10 times.
Arsenal in need of world-class reinforcements
Arsenal, meanwhile, have endured a season to forget. The Gunners began on a poor note under Unai Emery, which eventually led to his sacking. Mikel Arteta was brought in to replace him and the Spaniard has done a decent job so far, with the team showing signs of improvement.
However, Arsenal still remain 9th in the Premier League table, with chances of Champions League football for next season looking bleak. Given the current state of affairs, Arteta and Arsenal should bolster their squad in the summer transfer window.
While the defence will be a priority for Arsenal, the Gunners should also look to strengthen the attacking midfield. Mesut Ozil, at 31, has shown signs of slowing down. Moreover, with his contract expiring in a year, the German could be offloaded in the summer.
Dani Ceballos is another option at Arteta’s disposal. But the Spaniard will return to Real Madrid when his loan deal expires at the end of the season. Youngster Joe Willock has done well but is still lacking experience and Arsenal need someone who can take the team to the next level.
This makes Maddison a viable target for the Gunners. Since joining Leicester, the 23-year-old has impressed in spades. In his debut Premier League season, Maddison scored and assisted seven goals apiece, and created 100 chances in the top-flight, more than any player in the league.
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In the ongoing campaign, the Englishman has six goals and three assists in the league. Moreover, he has created 75 goalscoring chances for his team this term. Only Kevin De Bruyne (96) has created more than the Leicester City star.
Verdict
Maddison has proven himself in the Premier League for two years now. The Leicester City star would undoubtedly boost the overall quality of the Arsenal side and equip Arteta in the attacking midfield role. Hence, the Gunners should make an attempt to land the 23-year-old this summer.
