Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League • England

Postecoglou orders Tottenham hijack of £50m Newcastle move that’ll transform Spurs attack

Leicester playmaker James Maddison and Man Utd winger Jadon Sancho

Ange Postecoglou has urged Tottenham to snap up a £50m-rated playmaker who will change clubs this summer, though Newcastle have been working on the move for a whole year, per reports.

A common criticism of Spurs this season was their midfield had a one-paced feel. The likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are all fine players, though each excel on the defensive side of the game.

As such, Tottenham’s star-studded forward line including Son Heung-min, Harry Kane and Dejan Kulusevski were left to feed off scraps.

Kane did not suffer, notching 30 league goals in a single season for the second time in his career. However, Son and Kulusevski combined for just 12 goals, while Richarlison bagged just a single strike.

The arrival of an attack-minded midfielder would transform Spurs’ attack and according to both the Telegraph and Fabrizio Romano, new boss Postecoglou shares that view.

The Telegraph report Tottenham are ‘set to move’ for Leicester and England ace, James Maddison.

The 26-year-old will be allowed to leave the relegated Foxes and ‘in excess’ of £50m will be required to seal a deal.

Maddison is described as a ‘priority target’ for Postecoglou who has given Spurs the green light to pursue a move.

Maddison remarkably bagged 19 goal contributions in 30 league matches for a woeful Leicester side this term. The versatile attacker returned 30 goals and assists combined across all competitions the year prior.

Maddison is as proven as they come in the Premier League and with Leicester now relegated, a move this summer is a foregone conclusion.

But where he’ll land is still to be determined, with the Telegraph noting Newcastle too are in the mix.

Indeed, the Magpies have seen multiple bids for Maddison knocked back in the past. Newcastle’s highest bid for Maddison was £50m last summer, per Sky Sports.

Leicester refused to sell and made it clear another approach in January would meet the same fate given they were in a relegation scrap at the time.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed Newcastle have been chasing the player “since last summer”, while the i newspaper believe Maddison could be part one of a £110m triple coup at St. James’ Park.

In any case, Romano concluded Maddison is “set to leave” the King Power and negotiations over his transfer will “take place soon”.

Tottenham’s move is being driven by Postecoglou, though Newcastle have a head start.

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