Chelsea refused to sign anyone over the age of 25 during the summer transfer window, meaning James Maddison was never an option for them.
That is according to a report from The Telegraph.
It states that Chelsea’s transfer policy was to bring in players who were 25 or under, so 26-year-old Maddison could not be considered.
It is a decision that they could come to regret, as the attacking midfielder was available following Leicester City’s relegation to the Championship and is now impressing at their London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Mauricio Pochettino actually needed a player in the mould of Maddison following the departures of Mason Mount and Kai Havertz, but Chelsea opted to sign Cole Palmer in the end.
Maddison, who cost Tottenham £40m, has made a great start at his new club, scoring in their 5-2 win against Burnley earlier today.
Chelsea should have signed James Maddison
Honestly, it is a bit of a surprise that Chelsea did not go after Maddison after losing both Mount and Havertz.
As a player who can score goals and create them in that No.10 position, he would have been an ideal replacement for his England team-mate, who joined Manchester United.
Maddison, whose set-piece delivery has been described as “world-class” by Gareth Southgate, came up with 19 goal contributions in the Premier League last season, which is impressive given how poorly Leicester performed.
All in all, not snapping up Maddison feels like an opportunity missed, but if Palmer can deliver, it will not really matter in the end.
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