The Gunners are exploring other options to try and lower the £60m price tag on the 24-year-old’s head and have now offered Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah for the Foxes midfielder in a £60million player-plus-cash deal for Leicester City star James Maddison.
However, it was gathered that Leicester are not interested in taking any of Arsenal’s square members, and would prefer a cash only deal for Maddison, who is open to moving to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are determined to bring a creative midfielder to the club before the transfer window closes at the end of the month and Maddison is at the ‘top of the list’ for the Gunners, but negotiations are ‘very slow’ as it stands.
Last season loanee from Real Madrid Martin Odegaard remains an option for Mikel Arteta and Edu, with the Real Madrid man who is also concerned at his role in the Spanish club team, with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro set to be new coach Carlo Ancelotti ‘s first-choice options in midfield.
Arsenal are pursuing a deal for Maddison, but the £60m asking price could prove to be the penetrating point for the north London club, with the Foxes not attracted in a swap for the England international.
Football LONDON
