According to a recent report by David Ornstein of the Athletic (subscription required), Liverpool are set to compete with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur for the services of James Maddison from Leicester City. The same source has claimed that the Reds will be able to offer UEFA Champions League football to the English rising star which might give them an edge over their Premier League rivals.
Maddison’s Phenomenal Start To This Season
The Coventry-born prospect has made a scintillating start to this campaign after putting in some mesmerising displays for the Foxes so far. He has flourished playing in Brendan Rodgers’ style of football at the King Power Stadium this season.
Maddison has made nine appearances for the East Midlands outfit this term, netting three goals while creating two assists in all competitions. He has averaged 3.3 shots, 1.6 key passes and 2.9 dribbles per game in the English top-flight this season (stats via whoscored).
The Leicester star is one of the most promising young playmakers in English football, so it is no wonder that an elite club like Liverpool are queuing up to recruit him. The European champions have made a brilliant start to this Premier League campaign winning eight of their nine league matches thus far.
What Makes Maddison The Perfect Acquisition For Liverpool?
However, the two occasions that have tripped the Reds this season were the Champions League opener against Napoli and yesterday’s encounter versus Manchester United. The Merseyside outfit lacked invention in midfield on both those matches which has put more focus on Klopp’s shortage of creative options at the centre of the park.
Maddison could be the final piece in Klopp’s Anfield jigsaw as he is precisely the type of midfielder that will suit Liverpool’s brand of football. The former Coventry City youngster is quick enough to make some dangerous runs towards the opposition penalty area. He also has sensational ball-control and hardly throws away possession for his team. What makes Maddison such a highly sought after talent is his ability to unlock a rigid defence with a killer pass in the final third.
The English dazzler can also strike the ball with a lot of venom and accuracy, which makes him an ideal fit for the six-time European champions. Most Kopites will consider Maddison to be the perfect signing for Liverpool if they can bring him to Anfield in January or next summer.
