Arsenal have been urged by Nigel Winterburn to sign 24-year-old English playmaker James Maddison to make a strong statement in the transfer market.
In an interview with Free Super Tips, as relayed by football.london, Nigel Winterburn has made a plea to former club Arsenal to make a move for James Maddison. The 57-year-old former Gunners’ defender has said that landing the English playmaker would be a major statement of intent from the faltering giants.
Arsenal have an urgent need to sign a creative midfielder this summer, seeing as they are yet to fill the void left by the departure of Martin Odegaard at the end of his loan spell. While Odegaard himself is a target for the north Londoners, it is James Maddison who has emerged as a the priority for them.
The 24-year-old English international is keen on joining Arsenal as well, but the transfer is proving to be quite a tricky one for the Gunners to engineer. Nevertheless, Arsenal have been advised by former English defender Nigel Winterburn to launch the offensive for the Leicester City playmaker in order to make a statement ahead of the long 2021/22 season.
Speaking to Free Super Tips (h/t football.london), the Arsenal legend said, “I think where Arsenal are right now, it would be a huge move. Leicester have been so consistent in around the top of the league and to pull that player away using the history of Arsenal would be massive.”
“We’ve struggled with our league form, so to bring in someone of that quality would make a strong statement. We are trying to get back to where we want to be which is in that top four and once we’re there other options in terms of players start to open up. Maddison would be a great signing and a huge statement.”
Winterburn does make a lot of sense, seeing as Maddison has proven to be one of the most potent creators in the Premier League since joining Leicester City from Norwich City.
However, his £70 million price tag is proving to be a major hindrance for Arsenal, and it remains to be seen if they can land the 24-year-old English playmaker for an acceptable sum. An intriguing couple of weeks beckon.
