Arsenal are prepared to offer James Maddison a bumper £200,000-a-week contract as Mikel Arteta hopes to secure the Leicester City playmaker this summer.
According to the Daily Star, Arsenal are preparing a huge contract offer for James Maddison to lure the Leicester City playmaker to the Emirates. The wage offer could double the England international’s earning, although Leicester will not let him go on the cheap.
Leicester are expected to slap a huge price tag on Maddison to thwart interest from Premier League big six clubs, including Arsenal. There have been positive indications from the player’s camp as the Gunners believe the playmaker would be open to a move. Leicester want more than £80 million for the 24-year-old, while Arsenal are expected to pay what it takes to bring the player to North London.
Arsenal have plenty to do in the market, with Mikel Arteta targeting several players for multiple positions. They have already secured a backup left-back after signing Nuno Tavares from Benfica. The Gunners are also close to completing a move for Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, who will be announced soon.
Arteta will want his club to continue their recruitment spree with Ben White the next on their list. The North Londoners are close to agreeing on a big-money move with Brighton for the versatile England international. They would also like to add another central midfielder to replace Granit Xhaka, along with a playmaker.
Maddison has developed into one of the finest playmakers in the Premier League after impressive performances for Leicester since signing from Norwich City in 2018. Last season in 31 league games, he produced 8 goals and provided 7 assists for the Foxes.
Brendan Rodgers would like to go one further with his squad than last season’s fifth-place finish. They narrowly missed out on Champions League places on the last day of the season, although the FA Cup win certainly lifted the Foxes’ spirits. Rodgers considers Maddison, a key member of his squad, but a big offer might change that stance.
Arsenal have prioritised a creative midfielder this summer after failing to secure Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid. The Gunners targeted Emiliano Buendia only for the Argentine attacker to join Aston Villa. The Gunners have also rejected few offers from Villa for young playmaker Emile Smith Rowe, and are set to offer him a new deal.
Arteta would like to sign a playmaker and keep Smith Rowe, as he demonstrated since January playing the young English star with Odegaard. Maddison fits the profile required for Arsenal, while his numbers are solid. The North London side lacked creativity, and the shortage of goals last season was a testament to that problem.
The signing of Maddison will certainly boost those numbers, and Arsenal knows he will be expensive. How much Leicester plans to ask for the playmaker remains the question, but the £200,000-a-week wage package the Gunners are prepared to offer him would certainly be of appeal.