Hoddle tells Antonio Conte to wreck Newcastle United’s transfer dream with latest move

Former Tottenham player Glenn Hoddle has urged the club to make a move for James Maddison.

The 25 year old has established himself as one of the best attacking midfielders in the league and he would be a quality long term acquisition for Spurs. 

Maddison would add some much needed creativity and goals in the final third. He is an asset when it comes to taking free-kicks as well. 

Spurs have been crying out for a player like that and they were reportedly looking at the likes of Nicolo Zaniolo in the summer. 

It will be interesting to see if Spurs decide to make a move for Maddison at the end of the season. It is fair to assume that Leicester City will not want to sell their best player midway through the season, especially when they are struggling in the league. 

Maddison has a contract with Leicester until 2024 and he could be available for a reasonable price in the summer if he refuses to sign an extension with the Foxes. 

Hoddle believes that Maddison would add an x-factor to the Spurs attack and take them to the next level. The player has been linked with Newcastle as well. 

He said (h/t Chronicle Live): “They [Tottenham] need some creativity. Because at the moment it’s down to them [Kane and Son], it’s down to Harry dropping in and creating when I think the style of the players they’ve got up the pitch, if you did have that [Christian] Eriksen when he was Tottenham, for example.

“Maddison, I agree with whoever said that in the background, I love him, I think he’s one that should be in the England squad. I think if he was playing at the top – no disrespect to Leicester – but if he was playing in a top-six team he would be absolutely sensational and probably a shoo-in.

“You know, someone like that who comes in off the lines, creative, you’ve only got to look at the best teams in the country and you’ve got them sort of players.”

Antonio Conte has an impressive midfield unit but the lack of creativity and flair is quite evident. The likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur are more defensive-minded and Maddison would add a different dimension to the Spurs side.