Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing to make a £40m bid for Leicester City playmaker James Maddison this week.
The 26-year-old is about to reach the final year of his contract at the King Power Stadium and will almost certainly be sold following the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship.
Tottenham and Newcastle United have long been considered the frontrunners for Maddison’s signature, and the North London giants are now reported to be at the top of the queue.
Ange Postecoglou is looking to bolster his squad’s creativity ahead of his first season in command, and Maddison has been identified as as a top target.
According to The Telegraph, Tottenham are preparing their first bid for the England international and are willing to pay an upfront sum of £40m without add-ons.
However, Leicester are said to be driving a hard bargain, demanding up to £60 million to authorize a trade, despite the fact that Maddison could go for free in 2024.
Tottenham are hopeful that they can meet Leicester’s financial demands through performance-related bonuses, and the Lilywhites’ opening proposal is believed to be “imminent.”
Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of Maddison after Newcastle cooled their interest.
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Despite their relegation from the Premier League, Leicester will make a nice profit on the £21.4m they paid for Maddison five years ago, and the playmaker has justified his price tag at the King Power.
Maddison has 55 goals and 41 assists in 203 games for Leicester since joining in 2018, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2021.
The 26-year-old was called up to the most recent England squad and played 70 minutes of their 4-0 victory over Malta in a Euro 2024 qualifying match.
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