Arsenal suffer James Maddison transfer setback as Brendan Rodgers defiant over deal

Transfer update: Arsenal 'plan' player-plus-cash Maddison move

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James Maddison’s dream £60million move to Arsenal looks to be in balance – after boss Brendan Rodgers stamped his authority on the move by saying his midfielder would stay.

Maddison, 24, has been a key member of Rodgers’ star-studded team since his £20m arrival from Norwich in 2018.

But over the course of the last twelve months, the midfielder has found starting spaces limited.

Having only started 24 league games from a possible 38 – missing only one through injury – it appears that the improved form of Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans and a change in formation has altered his amount of starts.

But the Leicester City manager has backed his midfielder ahead of a bust campaign, suggesting the rumours are ‘clearly gossip and speculation.’

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Rodgers said, according to the BBC: “I believe he will stay. Working very hard in training. Clearly gossip and speculation at this time of year. Important member of our squad. Hopefully this year can show the real top player that he is.”

With the addition of Boubakary Soumare to Leicester’s ranks for a fee of £22m, places in the starting XI will be as hard as ever to earn.

But Maddison has been here before, and with a glowing review from his boss in the press, it is a good sign of things to come.

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Arsenal were hoping to land the playmaker for a total package of £60m – which was initially offered as a player plus cash deal.

It is yet to be seen who could have been offered to Leicester from the North London side.

However, reports suggest that Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Ainsley Maitland-Niles could have been used as part of the package to lure the Coventry-born midfielder to the Emirates Stadium.

Leicester have previously registered an interest in Maitland-Niles according to BBC’s Steve Stone, alongside Southampton and Burnley.

Maddison would be turning down the opportunity of European football to join the Gunners, following their eight placed finish in the Premier League last season.

It means that Mikel Arteta’s men won’t be playing continental football for the first time since 1996.

However, they will hope Maddison would be the man to change that should he make the switch from blue to red.

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