Leicester City legend Steve Walsh says James Maddison is ‘happy where he is’, despite reported interest from Manchester United.
The 22-year-old has starred early on this season under Brendan Rodgers, and is becoming one of the most highly-rated attacking midfielders in the Premier League.
Earlier this summer, the Independent reported that United had moved into pole position in the race to sign Maddison, but no move materialised.
Maddison scored seven goals and contributed seven assists in his first season in the Premier League, and was rewarded for his start to this campaign with a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
The midfielder was an unused substitute in England’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria in the Euro 2020 qualifiers at Wembley, but will be hoping to get minutes in the next qualifier against Kosovo in Southampton on Tuesday.
Amid reports linking Maddison with a move to United, Walsh believes he is content at Leicester and thinks he will remain loyal to the club.
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“He’s happy where he is, that’s number one,” he told The Express.
“And I think he’s grateful that Leicester gave him a chance in the Premier League because he was playing for Norwich and, OK, doing very well, but it’s a big step up.
“We spent some good money on him and are now developing him into a top-class player. I think he understands the grass isn’t always greener on the other side and I’m sure he’s a loyal kind of guy, he seems it.
“He’s down to earth and a great lad. He’s got everything to make him one of the top players in the world if he continues with the progress he is making.”
Despite Walsh believing Maddison will stay in the Midlands, he is exactly the type of player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs in his Manchester United setup.
The Reds have no creative spark in midfield, and are consistently struggling to unlock defences and create chances.
Solskjaer can no longer keep relying on the likes of Jesse Lingard, who has proven over a prolonged period he doesn’t have what it takes to occupy the attacking midfield role.
Maddison fits the recruitment plan of young, emerging British talent so certainly should be targeted by the Reds next summer, and should not be put off by a huge fee is commanded from Leicester for his services.
