Leicester City playmaker James Maddison has reportedly agreed personal terms over a move to Tottenham Hotspur, who are now working on striking a deal with the Foxes.
The England international could not save Leicester from a dampening relegation from the Premier League last season, despite coming up with 10 goals and nine assists in 30 top-flight games.
With only one year left on his contract, Leicester are resigned to losing their creator-in-chief this summer before he departs on a free transfer at the end of next season.
Tottenham and Newcastle United have both been alerted to Maddison’s availability, but the Magpies have cooled their interest as they close in on the signing of AC Milan’s Sandro Tonali.
As a result, Tottenham have jumped to the head of the queue, as new head coach Ange Postecoglou seeks creative acquisitions before his first full campaign in charge.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham have now reached an agreement on personal terms with Maddison, and negotiations between the two clubs are advancing.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is said to be taking on a prominent role in discussions, and the 61-year-old is pushing to get a deal over the line as quickly as possible.
Spurs are believed to have lined up an opening bid worth £40m plus add-ons for the 26-year-old, but Leicester are hopeful of obtaining a £60m fee through a summer sale.
Nevertheless, Tottenham are optimistic that an accord will be struck with Leicester, who paid £21.4m to bring Maddison to the King Power Stadium from Norwich City in 2018.
Over the past five years, Maddison has contributed 55 goals and 41 assists in 203 appearances for the Foxes, winning the FA Cup in the 2020-21 season before clinching the Community Shield a couple of months later.
Maddison’s form at Leicester earned him a call-up to the England squad for the 2022 World Cup, although he did not play a single minute in Qatar due to a knee injury.
However, the 26-year-old was back in the Three Lions’ squad for June’s Euro 2024 qualifiers, earning his third cap for his country in their 4-0 win over Malta.
Tottenham have already confirmed the arrival of Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal from Juventus following his 18-month loan, while Guglielmo Vicario‘s transfer is also on the verge of completion.
The Empoli goalkeeper – who has agreed to a five-year contract – is now understood to have completed his medical and could be announced as a Tottenham player this week.
Spurs are also reported to be in talks with Barcelona over a permanent move for Clement Lenglet, while Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guehi and Micky van de Ven have been mentioned as alternative centre-back targets.
