Sources: Arteta tells friends he wants PL 23-yr-old to be Arsenal's marquee summer signing

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Published on:

15 Jan 2020, 4:13 am

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to make Leicester City playmaker James Maddison his club's marquee signing this summer, Football Insider understands.

The 23-year-old has been targeted by multiple elite Premier League clubs after making a huge impact at the Foxes over the last 18 months.

An Arsenal source has told Football Insider how Maddison is a key target for Arteta, who has told friends he is plotting a big push to land him later in the year.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted there is no chance of Maddison leaving the King Power Stadium this month.

But the playmaker is wanted by the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United as well as Arsenal, with his long-term future in doubt.

Football Insider has learned Maddison is in talks with Leicester over a new contract but a deal has not yet been agreed.

His current agreement, signed when he joined from Norwich City in the summer of 2018 for £22million, runs until 2023.

Arteta is a big admirer of the attacking midfielder and believes he has the class and pedigree to play for a Champions League calibre club as well as develop into a regular for England.

The one-time full England international has been a key figure for high-flying Leicester this season, scoring nine goals and supplying three assists from 25 appearances in all competitions.

He is widely regarded as one of the most creative players in the Premier League.

In other Arsenal news, it can be REVEALED that the club have set their sights on signing Leeds United starlet who has blown them away.

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