Arsenal told it will need £70 million to sign Englishman

If Arsenal’s pre-season victory over newly promoted Watford is a sign of things to come, then the Gunners fans can afford themselves some excitement. 

Goals from Eddie Nketiah, Alexandre Lacazette, Kieran Tierney and Miguel Azeez secured an impressive 4-1 victory over the Hornets.

After their pre-season got off to the worst possible start with a comical 2-0 defeat to Scottish side Hibernian, this victory is a sign the work Mikel Arteta’s side have put in on the training ground has been working.

After an eighth placed finish last season which saw them miss out on all European competitions for the first time in 25 years, the North Londoners are looking to occupy themselves in the bracket of dark horses.

When Chelsea finished 10th in the 2015/16 season; unburdened by long journeys and extra matches which come with continental competition, the Blues steamrolled to the Premier League title.

And in a bid to hopefully mirror their fierce rivals, Arsenal have expressed a firm interest in Leicester City midfielder James Maddison, according to Sky Sports News.

Maddison was part of the Leicester City side who won their first ever FA Cup last season.

After last season’s loanee Martin Odegaard was retained by Real Madrid, the Gunners are desperate to add a new attacking midfielder to their side.

Maddison enjoyed a strong season for the Foxes, scoring eight goals and recording seven assists in 31 Premier League matches.

The 24-year-old just missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad for Euro 2020 but, with the World Cup only one year away, a move to one of the so-called ‘big six’ could be what he needs to affirm a place in The Three Lions.

However, with three years still left on the former Norwich City midfielder’s contract, it is believed it will take a bid of £70 million to prize one of Leicester’s biggest jewels from the King Power Stadium.