‘James Maddison in serious trouble’ after Tottenham transfer bombshell
James Maddison has been Tottenham’s most polarising player since he arrived from Leicester City.
Maddison was considered a coup for Tottenham after they took advantage of the Foxes’ relegation two years ago to bring the Englishman to North London for £40million.
The attacking midfielder could not have started life better at Spurs, but injuries and various streaks of bad form have seen him become somewhat unreliable. The 28-year-old is seen as one of the leaders in the dressing room and is one of the club’s vice-captains.
However, Maddison’s long-term future could be in doubt following the latest developments in N17.
Tottenham open talks for Morgan Gibbs-White
Maddison is undoubtedly Tottenham’s most creative passer, while he also finished as Spurs’ second-top goalscorer in the Premier League last season, behind Brennan Johnson.
Tottenham’s struggles to create in the playmaker’s absence were always noticeable, but some games would pass the midfielder by, a theme famously highlighted by pundit Roy Keane.
It’s an area of the pitch that Thomas Frank is keen to improve on, which saw Tottenham pursue Eberechi Eze before Arsenal stole a head start on the deal.
However, as reported by BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel (10 July), Tottenham have now opened talks with Nottingham Forest over Morgan Gibbs-White.
The transfer is said to be progressing quickly, while Nuno Espirito Santo’s side expect a minimum of £60million for their talisman.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
| James Maddison | 31 | 9 | 7 | 1,817′ |
| Morgan Gibbs-White | 34 | 7 | 10 | 2,824′ |
This news would spell serious trouble for Maddison, who would likely be in direct competition with his fellow countryman for the attacking midfield role.
Gibbs-White had an exceptional campaign as the fulcrum of the Forest team last season, as he helped guide the club to punch well above their weight and qualify for the UEFA Conference League.
Gibbs-White would be perfect for Spurs
At 25, Gibbs-White is the ideal age for Tottenham and possesses all the attributes that Frank values in a creative midfielder.
The former Wolves man has excellent vision and a keen eye for goal, and is instrumental in knitting moves together from back to front.
He also boasts an exceptional engine and physicality that allows him to get up and down the pitch with ease, and brings a wealth of Premier League experience.
The cost of the deal will be a factor, as Forest will be unwilling to let him go before such an important season. Otherwise, he is as close to a perfect signing for Spurs as the Lilywhites could hope for.
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