‘Maddison exit closer than ever’ as Tottenham ready to sign £50m+ replacement
James Maddison might have already played his final game for Tottenham after a transfer update.
Tottenham thought they had struck gold when they purchased Maddison for a £40million fee from Leicester City ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The midfielder hit the ground running and quickly became an undisputed starter for Spurs. However, several injuries have seen the 28-year-old miss some of the bigger moments during his two-year spell with Tottenham.
As such, Maddison could be sold this summer, with Spurs already identifying a potential replacement.
Tottenham are ready to pay £51million for Xavi Simons
Tottenham are on the hunt for star talents and have been following Simons for quite some time.
The Dutchman made the Bundesliga his playground when he first joined RB Leipzig on loan for the 2023/24 season, scoring eight goals and providing 13 assists in 32 league appearances.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
| Xavi Simons | 33 | 11 | 8 | 2.763′ |
| James Maddison | 45 | 12 | 11 | 2.718′ |
This encouraged Leipzig to sign Simons from Paris Saint-Germain permanently in January, in a deal which could be worth as much as £68m after add-ons.
As reported by Ben Jacobs via Last Word on Spurs (14 June), Tottenham like Simons but have not discussed a deal with Leipzig yet.
Spurs are willing to pay £51m for the 22-year-old, but Leipzig’s asking price is currently unknown.
However, if Tottenham were to sign Simons, Maddison would likely be sold. The two like to attack similar areas, and it is doubtful that either player would be happy as a squad option.
One of the biggest reasons why Simons left PSG was that Luis Enrique could not guarantee a starting spot. Therefore, the Lilywhites could opt for a younger, less injury-prone alternative to Maddison next season.
Tottenham would benefit from signing Simons
Simons could provide more than a dependable option for the injury-prone Maddison.
He is known for his versatility and is comfortable playing as an attacking midfielder and a left-winger. Simons excels when playing in tight spaces and is excellent at passing the ball between defensive lines.
Furthermore, he is an asset when on the counter and uses his speed and acceleration to challenge opposition defences. This differs from Maddison, who prefers to sit deep in these situations.
Therefore, Tottenham should commit to bringing Simons to Hotspur Way this summer, even if it means selling Maddison.