Man Utd step up scouting of Leicester’s ￡80m James Maddison with view to transfer as Solskjaer searches for creative spark
Posted Thursday, October 03, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk
Leicester and England star James Maddison is on Manchester United's radar Credit: Rex Features
MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Leicester's ï¿¡80million-rated playmaker James Maddison.
Harry Maguire swapped the King Power Stadium for Old Trafford in the summer, and former Norwich midfielder Maddison could be about to do the same.
The Standard is reporting that United scouts have "been tasked with monitoring Maddison" with a view to moving at the end of the season.
The newspaper reports that Borussia Dortmund's former Manchester City wonderkid Jadon Sancho is the "dream target" - but Maddison could be a more likely mover.
United are desperate for some more creativity in the middle of the park - with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seeming to prefer Paul Pogba in a deeper role.
Maddison has created more chances, including assists, than any other player since the start of the 2018/19 Prem season.
He is on 111, with Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser next with 99, one ahead of the now-departed Eden Hazard.
Juan Mata is used sparingly, Jesse Lingard seems off the pace and Andreas Pereira is learning the ropes.
LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
Ander Hererra and Alexis Sanchez left the club this summer meaning options are thin on the ground.
United missed out with a late move for Tottenham's Christian Eriksen on deadline day - the Dane has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid.
That has meant even more pressure on the shoulders of Pogba this season - the player rumoured to be keen to leave Old Trafford too.
This summer the French midfielder talked up his admiration for countryman Zinedine Zidane after he returned for his second spell in charge at the Bernabeu.
But he is still plodding around Old Trafford and has hardly set the new Premier League season alight.
And the striker department will clearly be a priority in January and next summer.
Romelu Lukaku was flogged to Inter Milan, and an injury crisis has seen rookie Mason Greenwood as the only out and out centre forward available recently.
Marcus Rashford has made a rapid recover from injury, but Anthony Martial is still out.
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