Manchester City were reportedly keen on signing James Maddison this summer before he joined Tottenham Hotspur, but Pep Guardiola was unable to sanction a move for the midfielder as he was unsure which players would be leaving his squad.
Tottenham have been tracking James Maddison for years now, ever since he caught the eye at Norwich City.
This summer, Spurs finally got their man after Leicester City were relegated from the Premier League and Maddison secured a move to the Lilywhites.
ENFIELD, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: James Maddison poses as he signs for Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on June 28, 2023 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
For Spurs, adding a creative spark like Maddison to their ranks was a no-brainer. The deal, costing Tottenham a reported £40m (Sky Sports), should help to make Ange Postecoglou‘s side an attacking force in the upcoming campaign.
The England international has already shown plenty of promise in two appearances for his new club during pre-season and appears to have settled in well in North London.
Manchester City wanted James Maddison
It could have been a very different story however, had Pep Guardiola known a little more about which players he would be retaining ahead of the forthcoming campaign.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, Manchester City were keen on signing Maddison this summer before Spurs swooped for the playmaker. The only thing holding them back was a lack of clarity on potential departures during this transfer window.
Apparently, City were unable to “formalise interest” in Maddison at the time as they were unsure whether players like Bernardo Silva would be staying in Manchester or moving on.
The signing of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea also made it difficult to sanction a move for Maddison, too.
Spurs Web Opinion
It is no surprise that top clubs across England wanted to sign Maddison this summer, as he is a fantastic player who is capable of performing at the very highest level.
We have bagged ourselves a brilliant signing, and hopefully, Maddison can now live up to expectations and flourish in this Spurs side.
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