Arsenal told huge James Maddison transfer valuation

Arsenal and their hunt for a playmaker this summer has taken supporters on a rollercoaster ride already and the transfer window has barely opened its doors. Names to entice and deter have been mooted with the latest on that list being James Maddison.

Starting out with Emi Buendia, a player Arsenal had tracked for well over a year, and seeing a bid lodged so early into the window got the pulses racing. Having set their own valuation on him, £30m was the top end of his value and the Gunners eased off.

Deemed a ‘transfer failing’, it turned out to be deliberate which then had attentions turned back to Martin Odegaard. An entirely different profile of playmaker – hence why that term is being used in this instance – confidence in his acquisition fizzled out quickly and while not dead in the water, the likelihood looks slim.

Compiling lists on who could be a like-for-like alternative to Buendia, as well as Odegaard, a left-field name entered the fray in the form of James Maddison.

Arsenal told huge James Maddison transfer valuation that forces Mikel Arteta rethink for new playmaker in summer transfer window

A player that fans of opposing Premier League sides will have admired from his time at Leicester, given the Foxes’ undoubted superiority over Arsenal in terms of quality over the past two seasons, his name took some by surprise.

Listed as the Gunners’ number one target in that area, the thought began to settle in supporters’ minds that a homegrown 24-year-old who has created the second most chances in the division since making his top-flight debut in 2018/19 behind only Kevin De Bruyne might be a welcome arrival.

However, he will come at a cost.

The fee in question once Maddison got linked to Arsenal was a cool £60m. Not too far off Arsenal’s biggest ever outlay and would catapult the Coventry-born man into second in the all-time list.

Having felt there was no money to spend this summer, helpful bank loans and the prospect of significant departures from the club have seemingly loosened the purse strings, enough so that £50m on Ben White is considered as a priority addition.

Any interest in Maddison may have to take a backseat though, with Leicestershire Live revealing that the Foxes have issued a very clear ‘hands-off’ valuation of a staggering £80m, the fee it took for Manchester United to sign Harry Maguire.

Surely that’s the end of the road for Arsenal?

Continued…