Leicester City midfielder James Maddison in action. (Getty Images)
According to Daily Star, Manchester United have shifted their focus on signing Leicester City playmaker James Maddison in the summer.
Maddison, 23, came through the ranks of Coventry City’s youth system and moved to Norwich City in the summer of 2016. After an impressive 2017/18 season at Carrow Road, where he scored 14 goals and provided 8 assists and earned a move to Leicester City.
He has been excellent in the past two years for the Foxes and also earned a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad. However, he may not be influential at United due to the presence of the big names at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has managed to lift United to 5th spot on the league table after a poor first half of the campaign. Summer signings Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Daniel James and Harry Maguire have proved to be vital for the team in their respective roles.
Adding to that, United signed Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes in January and the former Sporting Lisbon man has been a breath of fresh air in the team. He has helped the team with 3 goals and 4 assists in just 9 games as Solskjaer’s men haven’t tasted defeated since his arrival.
The Red Devils have three attacking midfielders in their ranks in Fernandes, Juan Mata and Andreas Pereira, and adding one more to the No. 10 role wouldn’t be ideal for the club. Despite Pereira’s lack of form, United have done well with the Portuguese international and Mata.
Mata has done a decent job and was influential in United’s FA Cup victory over Wolves in the 5th round, scoring the only goal of the tie. And Pereira has also had his fair share of game time. In this circumstance, bring in James Maddison would not help the team.
The 23-year-old would most likely have to compete with Fernandes as he has performed with much determination. And this would leave Solskjaer in trouble of whom to pick in the starting XI, although a welcome headache. In Mata and Pereira, they already have able substitutes.
The Red Devils would also be wasting their resources in Maddison if the English international is not given regular game time. And in central midfield, they already have Scott McTominay and Fred, both of whom have been outstanding.
United have a vast squad with enough midfielders in their ranks and instead of going for an attacking midfielder, they should look to bring in holding midfielders to replace Nemanja Matic, who has just one year left on his contract at Old Trafford.
Therefore, United should keep their eyes off Maddison in the summer.
