Leicester City star and Manchester United target James Maddison is ready to snub a summer transfer if he is not guaranteed regular first-team action.
In a recent interview, Manchester United transfer target James Maddison has insisted that he will consider a summer move away from current club Leicester City only if he is guaranteed first-team football, as reported by The Sun.
Maddison joined Leicester City from Norwich City only a year ago and went on to establish himself as the creative hub of the Foxes’ side in his first season in the Premier League. The 22-year-old ended 2018-19 with 7 goals and 7 assists apiece from 36 top-flight games.
The fact that Maddison finished the season as the best chance creator in the Premier League, having played more than 100 key passes, indicates the kind of influence he had on the proceedings in the final third. And that is something that has led to Manchester United wanting to sign him desperately.
The Red Devils endured a forgettable campaign and find themselves looking at a major summer rebuild under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Having already lost Ander Herrera this summer and with Paul Pogba’s future at the club uncertain, a new midfielder will be high on the manager’s summer shopping list.
To that end, Manchester United have been linked with a multitude of midfielders in recent weeks, but Maddison is believed to be high on manager Solskjaer’s priority list, as the Norwegian is keen to add a more creative presence to his side next season.
Maddison, however, has claimed that he would not consider a transfer this summer if he will be warming the benches at his new club. The 22-year-old playmaker said, “I have never been happy to sit on the bench and never will be. I have always wanted to play games, whether that was in League One or the Premier League.”
“When I moved to Norwich I didn’t get on the bench in the first game, then I was only a substitute. So I went to see the manager Alex Neil and said, ‘I can’t sit on the bench, I love playing football’. So I went on loan to Aberdeen. I was 18 at the time and people asked, ‘Why are you going to Aberdeen?’ Well, it was to play games.”
Maddison, who is valued around £60 million as per the report, would be a great addition to this Manchester United side. However the fact that he is a guaranteed starter at Leicester under Brendan Rodgers and that the Foxes are under no pressure to sell him will make it difficult for the Red Devils to convince him to move, unless they can offer him regular first-team football.
It remains to be seen if Manchester United press ahead with their pursuit of Maddison or turn their attention elsewhere. There have been reports of the 20-time English champions having already submitted an offer for Belgian international Youri Tielemans, while they are also keen on Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes.
