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Arteta wants to make £90m star his key signing as Arsenal plot audacious summer swoop

By on January 15, 2020

An interesting transfer rumour is doing the rounds today with reports suggesting that Arsenal are eyeing a big-money move for James Maddison after Mikel Arteta identified him as a key summer transfer target.

Arsenal aren’t expected to make any significant additions to the squad this month as money is tight after we splashed £130m in the summer so Arteta is reportedly scouring the loan market for short-term signings.

However, money should be available in the summer and it appears the club are already lining-up our targets as The Sun via the Daily Star claims Arsenal have joined the race to sign Maddison.

The report says Leicester will value the 23-year-old at around £90m but Arsenal will face stiff competition from Manchester United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also desperate to take him to Old Trafford.

The Sun’s report isn’t available to link to online as it’s in the print version of the newspaper but their story is supported by Football Insider, via Daily Star, who claim that Arteta has told close friends that he wants to make Maddison his marquee summer signing.

Both reports say Arteta is a huge admirer of the England international’s but we face a fierce battle to secure his signature as not only are United in the mix but Leicester are trying to tie him down to a new deal.

Terms haven’t been agreed yet as no doubt Maddison is keeping his options open but I think it’s obvious Arsenal would need to be able to offer Champions League football to stand a chance of luring him to the Emirates.

Leicester are well on course to finishing in the top four as they’re 11 points clear of fifth-placed Man Utd and 17 ahead of Arsenal so realistically we’ll need to win the Europa League to get back into Europe’s elite competition.

Champions League football will be important to attract a player like Maddison as he’s not going to leave Leicester to play in a lower level competition. But it’s also vital due to the money it will bring into the club as Arsenal will struggle to pay circa £90m without Champions League football.

Let’s see how things progress over the coming months but I think Maddison would be an excellent addition to the squad. He’s provided  9 goals and 3 assists in his 25 appearances this season and would be a long-term replacement for Mesut Ozil in the No.10 role.