HOW INFLUENTIAL IS JAMES MADDISON FOR TOTTENHAM?

James Maddison has the potential to become the signing of the summer. Moving from Leicester to Tottenham for £40m and already securing 2 goals and 2 assists in 4 appearances makes him stand out massively.

Tottenham have been looking for a number 10 since Christian Eriksen left the club in 2020 and Maddison has proved that he is great in this role. Heung min Son and Richarlison, who were typically supposed to be the main source of attacking threat, have started off slow (until the 5-2 victory over Burnley). Maddison has provided this extra attacking threat needed with other players not being so prominent.

On Maddison’s debut for Tottenham, he managed to pick up 2 assists in their 2-2 draw at Brentford. He assisted his co-vice-captain, Christian Romero from a beautiful free kick to start off the game and then his second was a smooth pass to Emerson Royal to equalise for Tottenham. These 2 assists and being an excellent playmaker secured him Man of the Match.

Another game in which he received Man of the Match was against Bournemouth. He was magnificent throughout the whole game but especially when he gave Tottenham the lead in the 17th minute assisted by Pape Sarr. The Senegalese midfielder and Maddison have created a strong partnership; along with Yves Bissouma and they have the potential to become one of the best midfield trios in the league.

Despite Heung min Son claiming a hattrick in Tottenham’s 5-2 win over Burnley, Maddison was again one of the players who stood out most. He gave Tottenham their third goal, firing the ball into the goal after collecting it from 20 yards out.

Tottenham’s manager Ange Postecoglou said after the game: “Madders is so creative, and he showed how clinical he is in front of goal and his preparedness to work hard for the team is a great example”. Ange really values Maddison’s presence and the fact that he connects with other players in the team to create goals is the positivity Tottenham needed to start the season.

One other big talking point amongst Spurs fans is Maddison being a Kane replacement. Harry Kane made an exit over the summer to Bayern Munich for over £100m. Kane was Tottenham’s main source of goals being their highest goal scorer with 280 goals, therefore when he left there was a lot of negativity and questions as to where the goals will come from. Although Maddison was not seen as an initial replacement for Kane, due to him being a midfielder whereas Kane was a striker, he has managed to provide a similar attacking threat and has also helped Spurs fans feel more positive without Kane.

Postecoglou and Maddison work perfectly together, with the England international playing his best football under the attack-minded Australian, providing extreme promise for the rest of the season. Postecoglou making Maddison vice-captain also shows a lot of faith especially with him being a new player. It shows that Postecoglou has trust in him and sees him as a leader, perhaps from observing his mentality before coming to Spurs.

A worry on Spurs fans' minds is if Maddison was to get injured. He is such a key player and although Spurs aren’t 100% reliant on him, it would be a huge blow to lose him at any time. Richarlison and Son would have to step up more as strikers and not rely on him playing them in behind. Bissouma and Sarr would need to keep up their current strong work in midfield, but they would also need to add more of an attacking threat.

With Maddison being one of the favourites so far this season (not just with Spurs fans), having the highest WhoScored rating (8.08) of any player in the league and only costing £40m, could he be the signing of the summer?