Aston Villa Could Sign Tottenham Star In A Bargain Deal: Should They Go For Him?

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·11 de marzo de 2026

Aston Villa Could Sign Tottenham Star In A Bargain Deal: Should They Go For Him?

Aston Villa are reportedly monitoring James Maddison‘s injury recovery with genuine transfer interest, according to Football Insider, who cite former Villa scout Mick Brown as their source. Maddison ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Tottenham‘s pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in South Korea, a blow that wiped him out before the 2025-26 campaign had even started. The injury affected the same right knee that previously caused him problems during his time at Leicester City and forced him to miss Spurs’ end-of-season fixtures, including the Europa League final.

Aston Villa Eye Cut-Price James Maddison Deal as Tottenham’s Relegation Nightmare Deepens

Brown told Football Insider that Villa are far from alone in keeping tabs on a player who can genuinely change games at the Premier League level. He pointed to the obvious concern, a full season on the treatment table, but made clear that positive recovery news could shift the entire transfer picture.

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“Maddison is going to be an interesting one. Everybody knows he’s a quality player, so there’s going to be interest in him, and he will be on the radar of teams like Aston Villa for example. They’ll be keeping an eye on his recovery from this injury, because it’s obviously going to be a concern when any player misses a full season of football. But if the reports on his recovery are positive and he returns for Tottenham in pre-season, there could be an opportunity to bring him in on a bargain deal.”

“If Tottenham are relegated, they’re going to struggle to keep hold of players, and they’ll have to sell, so the opportunity will be there for clubs like Villa. Nobody is going to pay through the roof for a player who has been sidelined for a year, but if he can be signed for a cheap fee, it’s an opportunity clubs could look at. A player like James Maddison at his best would improve a lot of teams in the Premier League, so I think he will be one to watch depending on his recovery.”

— Mick Brown, Football Insider

Maddison himself told ITV News that a return towards the end of the 2025-26 season is the realistic target, though he confirmed the 2026 World Cup with England is effectively ruled out. Meanwhile, Tottenham have continued to deteriorate in the Premier League, sitting 16th with just 29 points, one above the relegation zone under manager Igor Tudor, who has overseen three consecutive defeats.

Would Maddison Actually Fix What Is Broken at Villa Park?

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal CF at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Aston Villa’s own season has hit a turbulent patch, with former targets Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand both thriving elsewhere after Emery chose to move them on; a recurring narrative that has left fans questioning the club’s recruitment judgment this term. Villa are in the Europa League this season, and Emery’s ambitions clearly stretch beyond mid-table comfort. Maddison’s potential availability is eye-catching on paper, though serious questions remain once you look past the headline.

The 29-year-old England international was outstanding in 2024-25, registering 12 goals in 45 appearances for Spurs, and his creative intelligence, set-piece delivery, and high-volume chance creation made him one of the Premier League’s most effective attacking midfielders. His strengths, tight-space dribbling, late runs into the box, and a precise range of passing, suit the kind of system Emery runs. The problem is the same right knee. Two serious injuries to the same joint in under 18 months is the sort of medical record that should give any director of football pause, regardless of how cheap the fee looks.

Tottenham’s relegation looks increasingly probable given their wretched form in 2026, where they remain the only top-flight side yet to win a game in the calendar year. Going down would force Spurs into a sell-off, and Maddison’s asking price would fall sharply. Villa should stay close to the situation, but signing him as a first-choice creative midfielder would be a real risk. At a cut-price fee and with clean medical clearance, he makes sense as a squad addition while Emery hunts a more dependable main option. Villa will watch and wait, and my honest feeling is that they will let someone else take the gamble first.