A pundit asserts that a midfielder from West Ham surpasses Tottenham’s James Maddison in skill.
There is no denying that James Maddison has made a significant impact on Tottenham’s fortunes since his arrival at the club last summer from relegated Leicester City. With four goals and eight assists in his debut season for Spurs so far, according to Transfermarkt, Maddison has proven to be a successful addition to Ange Postecoglou’s squad.
Despite encountering injury issues this season, the England international has showcased his playmaking abilities whenever he has been on the pitch and has even been appointed as one of Postecoglou’s vice-captains at Spurs.
Meanwhile, West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has also had a commendable season. The Brazilian has contributed three goals and five assists in the Premier League, along with an additional four goals in the Europa League, as per Transfermarkt.
The question arises: Is Lucas Paqueta better than James Maddison? Both players are undoubtedly talented, but who stands out as the superior choice? According to Anton Ferdinand, if he had to choose one player for his team, he would opt for Paqueta over Maddison. He expressed his opinion on The Take On, stating, “He’s exceptional. Just watch him. [Paqueta] is exceptional. And he’s versatile, capable of playing in the number eight role as well. I think [Maddison] is excellent. But let’s face it, Manchester City isn’t pursuing James Maddison, are they? They’re after Paqueta. Personally, I would prefer to have Paqueta in my team.”
It’s worth noting that evaluating players solely based on Manchester City’s transfer interest is an unconventional and unreliable method of determining their quality relative to each other. Additionally, it’s pertinent to mention that City did express interest in signing Maddison before his move to Spurs, and their lack of pursuit now is likely due to his recent transfer and not indicative of his abilities.
