‘We’re told’: Sky journalist has update to share about Arsenal and Maddison live on air

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Dharmesh Sheth has told Sky Sports News that Arsenal remain ‘very interested’ in James Maddison, despite what looked a hands-off warning from Brendan Rodgers last night.

Big interest

The Leicester City boss was asked about his playmaker, after he was strongly linked with Arsenal in recent days.

Rodgers was quick to say that he believed Maddison would stay at the King Power Stadium, in what initially looked like a blow to Arsenal.

But Rodgers’ comments to the Metro have apparently not put Arsenal off doing a deal, and the Sky Sports journalist actually thought that the Foxes boss left the door open for a sale.

“So this is interesting because I was watching that to see what Rodgers said and, perhaps, what he didn’t say,” Sheth said.

“[He said] ‘he believes Maddison will stay. It was that last question he was asked, he won’t go as far as to say that Maddison is not for sale.

“There’s a big difference between not wanting to sell, and saying he’s not for sale.

“What we know is that Arsenal do remain very, very interesting in trying to do a deal to sign James Maddison.

“We’re told that Maddison could be open to the idea of a potential move to the Emirates, but we do know this would be such a difficult deal to do due to the finances involved.”

Big money deal

Sheth went on to say that Leicester want upwards of £60 million for Maddison and the easiest way to pay would be in straight cash.

For Arsenal that sort of deal would really stretch them and would surely depend on them offloading a number of fringe players quickly.

If Arsenal were to get a deal for Maddison over the line, his arrival would be a real mood changer at the Emirates Stadium.

There hasn’t been as many changes as expected with the Gunners so far this summer.

However, Maddison’s signature would prove that they really do have ambition to improve, and he could be their most exciting signing in many years.