Pundit admits he would have liked to see £40 million star at Liverpool next season

Football pundit and former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has said that he would have loved to see James Maddison plying his trade at Anfield.

Maddison secured a move to Tottenham Hotspur, who signed him for £40 million from Leicester City, earlier this week. He has agreed a deal till the summer of 2028.

The Englishman was one of the biggest names expected to switch clubs this summer following Leicester's relegation to the Championship. Despite attracting interest from Newcastle United, who could have offered him UEFA Champions League football, Maddison chose to join Spurs instead.

Enrique has now indicated that he would have liked to see the midfielder join Liverpool. The former defender, who played 99 times for the Reds between 2011 and 2016, tweeted:

"Very good player Maddison as well. Love him. Too much money for a player with one year left on his contract and in (the) Championship this season, but I believe he could even do well at Liverpool as well (sic)"

Maddison joins Spurs after five fruitful years with Leicester, during which he won the FA Cup and FA Community Shield. In 203 appearances across competitions for them, he scored 55 goals and laid out 41 assists. The 26-year-old has also won three senior caps for England.

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Liverpool looking to sign Dominik Szoboszlai from Leipzig

Liverpool may have missed an opportunity by not sending in a bid for James Maddison. However, they reportedly have their eyes set on another attacking midfielder: RB Leipzig's Dominik Szoboszlai.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Reds and Leipzig are engaged in conversations about the player. Romano tweeted:

"Negotiations between Liverpool and RB Leipzig for Dominik Szoboszlai are very advanced and progressing to the final stages. Key points being clarified on the price between the two clubs. No issues on player side."

There's still not much clarity available on how much Szoboszlai will cost in transfer fees. However, should the deal go through, he would add a much-needed goal threat from midfield for Jurgen Klopp's side.

The Hungarian scored ten times and laid out 13 assists in 46 games across competitions for Leipzig last season. Overall, he has recorded 20 goals and 22 assists in 91 games for the Bundesliga outfit since joining from RB Salzburg in January 2021.

The 22-year-old has also netted seven times in 32 games for Hungary, having been a part of his national team since 2019.

The Reds have signed Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion this summer. Signing Szoboszlai would further boost their resources in midfield following the departures of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain.