Liverpool have been linked with a plethora of players for the 2023/24 campaign as a significant summer rebuild is on the cards.
The majority of those have been midfielders due to the fact that there has only been one permanent signing (Thiago) in that area of the pitch for the last three years, with several stars set to leave when their deals expire.
One of the players the club have been heavily linked with is Chelsea man Mason Mount. But in recent weeks, his international colleague James Maddison has emerged as another name swirling in the Reds rumour mill.
READ MORE: What happened in Liverpool dressing room after Robertson 'elbowed' by linesman
READ MORE: 'I'd be stunned' - every word Dermot Gallagher said about Andy Robertson Liverpool incident
In early March, some media sources claimed Liverpool had an 'active interest' in him. In the last week or so, similar links have emerged.
At 26 years of age, the attacking midfielder - who has played on the wing for Leicester City at times this season - is coming into what should be the prime of his career. With just under 15 months left on his deal at The King Power Stadium, his side could be tempted to cash in now as the risk of losing him for free grows.
Leicester have had been well below par which has seen them part ways with Brendan Rodgers as they were in the bottom three. But nevertheless Maddison has been playing well with 15 goals contributions in 23 leagues games and Rodgers knew just how important he was.
Speaking about Maddison before the recent defeat to Crystal Palace Rodgers said: “I think he’s matured on and off the pitch, particularly in the last few years.
“He’s got a great view of the game. He creates goals and scores goals and what he’s improved over the last couple of years has been the intensity in his game when he hasn’t got the ball.
“But off the pitch he’s very educated, he speaks well about the game, he speaks honestly about it as well in terms of his performance, the team performance.
“That maturity over the last few reasons has really come to the fore and it’s great to see because you need that in every team.
"You need players that are going to take on that leadership role and not just worry about themselves but worry about the team; he’s certainly one of those.”
Much of that could potentially appeal to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp - especially the hints at a growing intensity off the ball.
Maddison’s good form before Christmas got him into the World Cup squad but he only recently got his first full start for his nation and England manager Gareth Southgate was very complimentary of him after England’s recent win against Ukraine.
He said: “He's been playing really well for his club so we had no doubt he would fit in, his use of the ball was excellent.
“I thought he had a super game, it didn’t surprise me because he’s got the personality to play that way.”
He added: “We thought it was a good game to see him. It was a good level opponent so it wasn’t just a game you weren’t going to learn anything about him, it was defensively really solid for him.”
Maddison will be the driving force behind Leicester’s survival bid and his attacking prowess is a constant every time he steps on the pitch.
This term - based on stats prior to the weekend's defeat at Bournemouth - per 90 minutes he had averaged 4.49 passes into the final third, 3.64 touches in the opposition box, 1.40 carries into the final third whilst he had also drawn 2.54 fouls a game which emphasises the threat he brings.
He has been an integral part of Leicester’s frontline but his heatmap shows the positions he tends to occupy the most are centrally meaning he could take up an attacking position in Klopp’s midfield three, possibly taking up the role that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain done so well in several years ago.
With Naby Keita’s contract up this summer, like Oxlade-Chamberlain’s, an attacking minded midfielder may be in Klopp’s thinking. There could be questions marks about Maddison’s defensive abilities, however his progressive carries with the ball would help Liverpool build from deep.
Ahead of the weekend's game, he had 48 so far this season compared to Mount’s 47 which shows how the pair are of similar ilk considering they play in the same position, so Maddison may be a viable alternative should the Chelsea midfielder not come to Anfield.
The price that has reportedly been set by Leicester City is £50million - and Tottenham Hotspur are said to be monitoring him so Liverpool could face a transfer battle if Maddison was of genuine interest.
But with the possibility of relegation potentially impacting that price in the summer, with his contract running down all the while, the idea of Liverpool making a shrewd move is impossible to rule out.
READ NEXT:
Liverpool unleash their not-so-secret weapon that must be used more next season
PGMOL make Constantine Hatzidakis decision after Andy Robertson incident
Arsenal may have just unleashed Klopp's new Liverpool on the Premier League
FA should make an example of Constantine Hatzidakis like they did with Aleksandar Mitrovic
Roy Keane slammed for Andy Robertson 'baby' comment in withering attack by ex-Liverpool striker
