Danny Murphy admits he is slightly ‘disappointed’ by James Maddison’s move to Tottenham Hotspur as the former Leicester City star belongs at Champions League level.
After last season’s eighth place finish, Tottenham Hotspur will not even be gracing the UEFA Conference League in 2023/24, let alone Europe’s premiere club competition.
And Murphy cannot help but wonder if James Maddison should have nailed his colours instead to a club who ended last term a little higher up the table; Newcastle United among those heavily linked before the England international secured his £40 million move to North London.
Tottenham win the race for James Maddison
“I’m actually disappointed for him in some ways. I think he’s a Champions League player,” Murphy, who himself had a brief spell at Spurs, tells talkSPORT (2 August, 12.40pm).
“He might (become one) but he’s not now. I thought he would get a club in the Champions League.”
There can be no doubting Maddison’s elite ability with the ball at his feet. One of Europe’s most gifted playmakers scored 10 times and set up nine more even as Leicester suffered relegation last season.
Murphy believes that it is Maddison’s qualities out of possession which may have cost him a move to the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Man United or Newcastle, however. Eddie Howe, in particular, demands remarkable levels of work-rate and discipline from his midfielders, with Joelinton, Chris Willock and Sean Longstaff chosen as much for their energy and tenacity as much as anything else.


“That is probably why some of the other big boys weren’t in (for Maddison). It’s not that he’s lazy! He is reactive with his defending, he is not proactive,” Murphy argues.
“It’s a delicate point. There is a real difference between someone who you see running about and trying to defend, but if you’re proactive and you’re bright with it, you don’t have to do so much running about.
“(But) he will make them (Tottenham better).”
The post Pundit admits he is 'disappointed' to see £40m ace join Tottenham Hotspur appeared first on HITC.
Next