Former Arsenal full-back Nigel Winterburn has urged his old club to bring Leicester City's James Maddison to the Emirates Stadium this month.
The Gunners are desperate to bring in an attacking midfielder after Norway captain Martin Odegaard returned to his parent club Real Madrid following his six-month loan spell in north London
football.london revealed back in June that technical director Edu has placed Maddison 'at the top of the list' of transfer targets, with the 24-year-old also open to the idea of a move.
However, football.london understands that negotiations are 'very slow' and 'like a game of chess' but the former Coventry star remains keen on a move to north London, with the Foxes' asking price the main stumbling block.
Arsenal would likely have to fork out in excess of £60million for the playmaking maestro and football.london understands that Edu is currently exploring cheaper options in case a deal for the England international cannot be completed this month.
This has been echoed by a report from the Athletic, which has claimed that the Gunners could make a move for the aforementioned Odegaard, or even Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, who they narrowly missed out on last summer.
Still, Winterburn has urges Arsenal to move for Maddison, claiming that weakening Premier League rivals Leicester would make the deal 'massive'.
"I think where Arsenal are right now, it would be a huge move" Winterburn told FreeSuperTips.
"Leicester have been so consistent in around the top of the league and to pull that player away using the history of Arsenal would be massive.
"We've struggled with our league form, so to bring in someone of that quality would make a strong statement. We are trying to get back to where we want to be which is in that top four and once we're there other options in terms of players start to open up.
"Maddison would be a great signing and a huge statement."
