James Maddison’s role and future at Tottenham has become a talking point, particularly in light of recent adjustments to his playing time.
Transfer insider Dean Jones, via GiveMeSport, has noted that despite the presumption, Maddison’s departure from Spurs in the January transfer window is ‘very unlikely’. This comes even as he has seen fewer starts in manager Ange Postecoglou’s recent selections.
Dean Jones makes James Maddison exit claim
Maddison joined Tottenham in June last year on a five-year contract for a transfer fee of around £40 million. His arrival was met with high expectations, and he quickly lived up to them, being appointed vice-captain alongside Cristian Romero, with Heung-min Son taking the captain’s armband.
His early contributions, including a goal and two assists within his initial three matches, earned him the Premier League Player of the Month award for August. However, he picked up an injury and has not been the same since then.
Maddison’s inconsistent performances has seen his role evolved recently, with Postecoglou showing he has no problems in benching him when required. He did not play in Tottenham’s League Cup victory over Manchester City last month and was omitted from the starting XI in consecutive league games against Aston Villa and Ipswich.
Writing for GiveMeSport, Jones stated:
“There is no indication yet that Maddison will be leaving Tottenham in the immediate future. Sources close to the club believe that a January transfer is very unlikely, giving Maddison a crucial opportunity to prove his worth as the season progresses.”
“After the international break, though, the period leading up to Christmas will be a key one for the midfielder. If he can demonstrate his value by contributing meaningfully in these games, he can secure a key role again in Tottenham’s long-term plans.”
“If not? There will be more serious doubt cast upon his future as we begin 2025. He is one of the club’s highest earners and at a time when they are being careful about bringing in new talent at that same wage level, he has to prove he is worth the outlay and fits into the system.”
Although his minutes were limited, Maddison still made an impact by scoring a brilliant free-kick against Villa, which was his 50th career Premier League goal.
Postecoglou’s tactical adjustments have included a focus on a dynamic midfield, often favouring the high-energy contributions of Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr.
However, Bentancur’s recent seven-game domestic ban imposed by the FA due to disciplinary reasons could open the door for Maddison to regain a more prominent role after the international break.
With three goals and three assists in 11 league appearances this season, Maddison’s influence on the pitch remains evident.
His capabilities are crucial as Tottenham braces for tough fixtures ahead, underscoring his potential resurgence as a key figure in their midfield strategy.
If Jones’ claims are true, Maddison has nearly 6 months to prove his worth to the Tottenham side or else, the club could consider selling him next summer.
