Arsenal ‘make player-plus-cash swap transfer bid’ for Maddison

Arsenal have reportedly submitted a player-plus-cash bid for Leicester City ace James Maddison but the Foxes insist they want £60m for the player.

The Foxes midfielder Maddison is high up on the summer wish-list of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who is looking to add more reinforcements to his squad before the season starts next Friday.

But the Spaniard is said to not be keen on meeting Leicester's £60million asking price for Maddison.

The 39-year-old has tried to reduce the Foxes' asking price by including one of his fringe players in the deal. Football London reports.

It's understood the north Londoners are planning to offload some of their out-of-favour players before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Joe Willock, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are all up for sale.

However, it's not known if any of the quartets have been offered as a make-weight in the reported Maddison bid.

Maddison made 42 appearances for Leicester City last season, scoring 11 goals and providing ten assists for Brenan Rodgers' side.

Arsenal's pursuit of the midfielder could be made easier by the player's reported eagerness to swap the King Power Stadium for the Emirates.

The Gunners will kick off their Premier League campaign a week on Friday, travelling to the Brentford Community Stadium to take on newly-promoted Brentford.