Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has sounded a ringing endorsement of James Maddison's form this season, despite Leicester City's relegation from the Premier League.
The England forward's future is already the subject of much speculation, with Newcastle United, Tottenham and Arsenal linked with a move for the 26-year-old. The Foxes will be playing Championship football after a difficult season which saw Brendan Rodgers replaced by Dean Smith in the dugout, with Maddison one of many players expected to move on this summer.
But while some big names struggled for the club, Maddison maintained the form which saw him called into Gareth Southgate's England squad for the World Cup, scoring ten goals in 30 Premier League appearances for the club this term.
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And former England striker Lineker, a boyhood Leicester fan, was quick to point out Maddison's contribution on Match of Day amid a discussion of where it all went wrong.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer picked out the amount of Leicester players whose contracts are running out - with Maddison's set to expire in 2024 - saying: "When you've got that many players out of contract, I don't think that's healthy for your football club. I'm not saying that a lot of them don't care, but I don't think it's a healthy situation. You've also got one of your best players in Maddison who only has a year left."
At this point Lineker added; "I have to say, Maddison has been excellent this season. He's been remarkably consistent in a team that has struggled."
Newcastle had been hopefuly of agreeing a £50m deal for the playmaker last summer, and it remains to be seen whether they get their man this year.
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