‘Terms agreed’ - Tottenham advance in pursuit of Aston Villa and Newcastle transfer target

Tottenham Hotspur have moved ahead of Aston Villa and Newcastle United in the race for Leicester City midfielder James Maddison, according to a reputable report.

The ever-so-reliable transfer news journalist Fabrizio Romano claims Spurs have “agreed personal terms” with Maddison and “negotiations are finally advancing”.

It was previously thought to be a two-horse race between Tottenham and Newcastle for the England international but speculation has ramped up this week over a potential Villa switch.

So much so that Villa legend Gary Shaw urged his former club - via The Sun - to make an approach to Leicester. “I’d love Villa to get in first and have a real go,” Shaw said this week.

It appears that Tottenham are the ones to make the first dive, however, and so both Villa and Newcastle will have to move swiftly if they are to hijack the transfer.

Maddison was relegated to the Championship with Leicester after a tense and decisive Premier League final day and will undoubtedly leave the King Power Stadium this summer.

As it stands, Spurs - as previously stated - have already agreed terms with the player. The next step is agreeing a fee with the Foxes to secure the attacking midfielder’s services.

The ball is already rolling for that aspect, too, as Romano reports “Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is very active on the deal, trying to get it done as soon as possible”.

Maddison was Leicester’s shining light last term as he scored 10 goals and recorded nine assists in 30 Premier League appearances.

The season before that was just as successful as the 26-year-old contributed 12 goals and eight assists in 35 games. His current market value is in excess of £50 million.