4 alternate midfield targets for Arsenal this summer

3. James Maddison

Leicester are ready to part ways with Maddison this summer after they inexplicably dropped down to the second tier seven years after their miracle title triumph. The Foxes’ demise is sad, and they’re bound to oversee a clearout ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Tottenham and Newcastle are said to be the frontrunners in the race for Maddison, with Arsenal not yet mentioned as a possible destination for the England international. However, given that they had an interest in Mason Mount, it’s hard to believe that Maddison, who notched an impressive 19 goal contributions in 30 league appearances, hasn’t caught the eye of Arteta.

The 26-year-old will be available for a discounted price, although Leicester are believed to be holding out for at least £50m.

Nevertheless, Maddison is Premier League proven and yet to hit his prime. There’s a lot of upside from any potential deal, with the 26-year-old being a much more natural fit for Xhaka’s between-the-lines role. The England international is a marvellous creator, and he occasionally skippered Leicester this season. Only Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, and Bruno Fernandes registered more shot-creating actions than Maddison in 2022/23.

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