Despite Leicester City being in serious danger of relegation, reports suggest that Manchester United target James Maddison will be sold this summer regardless of the outcome. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder has scored nine and assisted seven in 25 league games this season and is out of contract next summer, meaning this is the Foxes’ last chance to cash-in on the star. Leicester have revealed record losses of £92.5million earlier this year, so they are likely to let him go for a fee in the region of £45m to £60m.
Maddison has recorded 54 goals and 39 assists in 198 matches for Leicester, helping them win the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2021 and qualifying them for European competition two years in a row. Everton manager Dean Smith compared Maddison favourably with Jack Grealish whom he worked with at Aston Villa, saying: ‘I think they are different types of players but they both know they’ve got ability and want to push themselves to become the best. He’s always looking to see what he can do better. He’s really engaging in the meetings we have and tactical meetings, and very vocal as well. I can see that similarity [with Grealish] of wanting to push himself.’ Leicester will face Everton on Monday night in a crucial relegation battle, with the outcome likely to determine the future of many of their best players, including Maddison.