Chelsea reportedly turned down the chance to sign James Maddison this summer as they refused to invest in anyone over the age of 25. It seems that Leonardo DiCaprio heads up the club’s transfer committee. Their loss is very much proving to be Tottenham’s gain.
Spurs won the race to sign Maddison, despite interest from Newcastle, parting with £40m to land the England midfielder. With Harry Winks going to Leicester for £10m, Spurs essentially secured Maddison’s services for £30m. We’re only four games into the new season but the 26-year-old is shaping up to be the signing of the summer.
Tottenham have made an impressive start under Ange Postecoglou, better than many expected. The ongoing saga surrounding Harry Kane’s future, finally settled the day before Spurs got their season up and running at Brentford, threatened to derail their preparations. However, four games in and Spurs are unbeaten, they have 10 points to their name, and they go into the international break second in the table behind defending champions Manchester City.
Maddison has been at the centre of their attacking efforts. A number of Spurs players have performed well – Yves Bissouma is replicating his best Brighton form at the base of the midfield, while Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven have bolstered what was previously one of the league’s frailest backlines – but Maddison has stood out.
He is filling a gap that long needed filling. Spurs have not had a No 10 who can pry apart defences since Christian Eriksen’s departure to Inter in 2020, and that has shown. Kane dragged the club through the mire – he scored 43% of their league goals last season – but there was not a creator to drift between the lines and pick out teammates. Maddison’s arrival was welcomed with open arms by supporters and they have not been disappointed.
Even though Leicester were relegated last season, Maddison maintained his high standards, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists. He has been even better this season, scoring twice, setting up two more goals and returning the highest WhoScored rating (8.08) of any player in the league.
Safe in the knowledge that the defence is protected by Bissouma, and both full-backs when they push into midfield, Maddison is free to do what he does best: wreak havoc in the final third. He has been given a free role and is quickly establishing himself as the creative fulcrum in Postecoglou’s exciting team. He ranks top for key passes (10) and second for dribbles (seven) of all Spurs players this season.
Interestingly, he has also taken more shots (13) than any of his teammates. Kane took 25% of the team’s 518 shots last season and Maddison is stepping up in his place. Richarlison and Son Heung-Min, at least until the latter’s hat-trick at Burnley on Saturday, have started slowly this season, so Maddison has taken it upon himself to provide that additional goal threat. Nine of his 13 shots have been from inside the box, which shows he is getting into threatening positions and has the confidence to chance his luck. For comparison’s sake, Richarlison has only taken four shots on goal.
This was the concern for Spurs fans when Kane left for Bayern Munich – where would the goals come from? Richarlison has failed to take his chance as the lead striker – he has scored one league goal in 31 appearances for the club – and Son is coming off a disappointing campaign. Maddison is at least trying to force the issue in the final third, whether creating openings for teammates or going for goal himself.
Postecoglou has created a positive mood at the club after miserable spells under José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo and Antonio Conte. The club has oozed negativity in the four years since Mauricio Pochettino’s departure in 2019, but that is changing under the Australian. Not everything is peachy, but it’s a darn sight better than the death throes of Conte’s reign of terror. Maddison’s performances, and the ease with which he has adjusted to his new surroundings, have boosted morale among the fanbase. It’s not a shock that he has quickly become a fans’ favourite.
Tottenham have a mixed record in the transfer market. Two players who broke their transfer record – Davinson Sánchez and Tanguy Ndombele, who cost a combined £97m – left the club this week having failed to live up to their potential. But spending £40m on an experienced England international who has proven himself in the Premier League was a smart move, especially considering that Arsenal and Chelsea are spending nearly three times as much on midfielders. It’s early days but Maddison is shaping up to be crowned the signing of the summer.
Premier League team of the week
