James Maddison the 'signing of the summer' - TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole praise for Tottenham's new recruit

Tottenham's signing of playmaker James Maddison from Leicester City has been described as the Premier League capture of the summer by TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole.

Cole, speaking as part of TNT's Premier League coverage of the match between Bournemouth and Tottenham, explained in detail why he views Spurs' £40 million signing as the best deal done by any team so far this summer.

New Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou wants his teams to get the ball down and play, something that suits Maddison's game perfectly.

Cole said: "The more I think about it he could be the best signing of the summer. I am so excited for him, especially the way Ange plays."

It's not just player and manager that suit, but also club. Cole went on to explain that Spurs have a history of getting the best out of silky midfielders like Maddison.

He said: "Look at the players that have played that position at Spurs, [Glenn] Hoddle, [Paul] Gascoigne, [Luka] Modric."

Cole, a former team-mate of Maddison's at Coventry City, also gave some insight into the mentality of Spurs' No. 10 and observed that Postecoglou must have seen the same thing he had.

He explained: "Ange giving him the VC shows how astute and clever he is. James is a leader."

Peter Crouch, speaking alongside Cole on TNT, echoed his former England team-mate's thoughts.

He explained: "You have to manage him. He's a confident lad. Giving him responsibility is the right call."

In a summer transfer window dominated by £100m+ deals for players like Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, Spurs' signing of Maddison for £40m is looking like a good piece of business.

Maddison had been a long-term target of Tottenham. Former coach Antonio Conte reportedly turned down the chance to sign Maddison last summer, while Spurs were also linked when he was at both Coventry and Norwich City but they have finally got their man.

The England playmaker laid on two assists on his Tottenham debut, a 2-2 draw with Brentford on the opening day, while he shone again last weekend against Manchester United in Spurs' 2-0 win.

Evidence of his importance to the team can be seen in the reactions to images of him leaving the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend on crutches. Fortunately for Spurs, Maddison recovered and was deemed fit to start Saturday's match against Bournemouth.

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