If Christian Eriksen leaves Tottenham it will take a very talented player to replace him. James Maddison could be that player for Spurs.
There aren’t many midfielders in Europe capable of giving Tottenham what Christian Eriksen provides on a weekly basis. Interestingly, Spurs might not need to travel outside of England to buy his potential replacement. Prying James Maddison away from Leicester City could be a stroke of brilliance by Mauricio Pochettino and company.
Make no mistake, Leicester aren’t going to be in any mood to sell Maddison anytime soon. He’s a crucial piece of what club officials believe to be a lineup capable of challenging for Champions League qualification. Losing him to Spurs would be a cruel blow for the Foxes.
That doesn’t mean Maddison isn’t interested in making the move to north London. Recent comments from the 22-year-old attacker published via Football London make it clear that he wants to play at the highest level possible as quickly as he can. If Leicester can’t produce a Champions League appearance next season, it’s quite possible Maddison will be open to moving elsewhere.
If Maddison shows any interest in moving to Spurs it is imperative that Daniel Levy and the higher-ups at the club make every effort to secure his services. He is a tailor-made replacement for Eriksen in the middle of Pochettino’s starting XI. Not only is Maddison a very skilled player on the ball, he also shows a real tenacity to win the ball back once it’s lost. The latter might make him a better fit for Pochettino’s system than his current Danish No. 10.
Tottenham fans shouldn’t make the mistake of believing Maddison might be purchased for a cut-rate price. Leicester aren’t going to want to lose him in the first place. If they do decide they must let him go, it’s going to cost Spurs an arm and a leg to complete the deal. £60 million is the absolute floor for potential Maddison negotiations. It’s easy to envision Leicester successfully getting a transfer fee closer to £80 million when all is said and done.
Christian Eriksen could very well recommit his future to Tottenham and make the idea of purchasing Maddison irrelevant moving forward. If he doesn’t, Spurs must make a big move for the young Englishman. He’s one of the few young players in Europe that have already proven they’re capable of producing quality results for a talented Premier League side. Maddison is the perfect replacement for Eriksen.