Transfer News: Leicester City knock back Arsenal offer for James Maddison

Arsenal have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign James Maddison, with Leicester City valuing the player at around £70 million.

According to Football Insider, Arsenal have stepped up their attempts to sign James Maddison this summer. But it appears their player plus cash deal offer for the talented midfielder has been rejected by Leicester City.

The Gunners had offered Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles as potential makeweights in the deal. Brendan Rodgers, though, is not too keen on any of the two players, with Leicester instead holding out for a fee of £70 million.

Formerly of Norwich City, Maddison initially joined the Foxes in 2018 for a fee of £22.5 million. He has since racked up 27 goals and 20 assists in 118 competitive appearances for the club. His influence in the final third has been crucial behind the club’s progress under Rodgers.

His performances haven’t gone unnoticed either, with Mikel Arteta pursuing him as an ideal alternative for Martin Odegard. Although Arsenal are still on the hunt for the Real Madrid playmaker, they could find it difficult to strike a deal, especially after missing out on European football.

Maddison, meanwhile, may not have such hesitating in moving to Emirates, knowing Arsenal can offer him the ideal platform to showcase his talents at the highest level of football, in his quest to return to the England fold.

However, the Gunners need to do much better if they are to secure the services of the 24-year-old. Their player plus cash deal involving Nelson and Maitland-Niles was certainly never going to work, as neither of the two players are particularly in-demand right now.

Nelson hasn’t even got going since returning to north London, though he appears to be on the verge of joining Crystal Palace on loan this summer. Maitland-Niles, on the other hand, has had a better season on loan at West Brom, but he is not an ideal fit for Leicester City.

As such, Arsenal’s only option is to meet the Foxes’ £70 million, which is near impossible for a club facing financial restraints. A move for Maddison could thus be off the table, despite the player’s willingness to move to north London this summer.

Fortunately, Arteta has no shortage of alternatives in the market, especially with Houssem Aouar once again emerging as an option for the Gunners. The Frenchman is available for a cut-price and may represent better value for money, considering his versatility and experience at the highest level of football.