Arsenal have a new transfer target after missing out on a deal for Emiliano Buendia.
And it's not Martin Odegaard, who according to The Athletic, is 'set to stay' at Real Madrid this summer despite interest from the north London outfit in bringing him back following a successful loan spell.
If reports are to be believed, Arsenal are interested in signing Leicester City playmaker James Maddison.
That is per the reliable @TheAFCBeII on Twitter - who first broke Arsenal's interest in Thomas Partey last summer - and this rather surprising development has sent many Gunners supporters into a transfer frenzy.
Furthermore, football.london understands that Maddison is certainly a target for manager Mikel Arteta as he looks to improve his creative midfield options.
However, signing Maddison will be easier said than done - just ask Chelsea and Manchester United.
In the last two summer transfer windows, the aforementioned duo have signed a player from the King Power Stadium in Ben Chilwell and Harry Maguire respectively.
And on both occasions, they found out that the Foxes are a tough team to negotiate with.
Whilst the Blues ended up splashing a reported £50m to sign Chilwell, Man United had to smash the transfer record for a central defender with an £80m deal to acquire the services of Maguire.
More of the same could be in store for Arsenal regarding Maddison.
Having tied the midfielder down to a four-year deal just last summer, Leicester will be in a good negotiating position once again should the Gunners make an official approach.
"I’m so happy to sign a new contract for this Football Club," Maddison said after signing his new deal in August 2020. "It’s an incredibly exciting time to be a Leicester City player with so many positive things happening on and off the pitch and I’m delighted to be part of that. What we’ve achieved as a Club this season is a huge step forward for us and I know there’s so much more to come from this team.
"I’ve enjoyed every moment since joining Leicester City.
"The supporters have been incredible to me and we’ve a fantastic set of players in that dressing room who are determined to show what we’re capable of doing together in both Europe and the Premier League next season."
Currently valued at between €50m-€70m (£43m-£60m) via the CIES Football Observatory, that could be the asking price to seal a deal for Maddison this summer.
Although, there has been no indication as to how much Leicester would demand for the 24-year-old.
