James Maddison was one of the first Tottenham Hotspur players to welcome record-signing Sandro Tonali to the club. The English midfielder took part in the announcement video after the Lilywhites broke their transfer record to sign the Italian from Newcastle United in an £100m deal.
After a dismal past season which nearly saw Spurs suffer relegation, Roberto De Zerbi is being backed with a major squad rebuild. Mateus Fernandes has also arrived from West Ham United for £85m, and the higher-ups are putting their money where their mouth is.
That said, there needs to be just as much focus on cutting ties with several players as there is adding top talent to De Zerbi's squad. One of the biggest names who should be headed for the exit door is Maddison.
Maddison must go
Maddison is undoubtedly one of the most talented players in De Zerbi's squad. He can grab games by the scruff of the neck and his playmaking abilities don't need mentioning.
The 29-year-old is now at an age where he's become a leader and that showed during his appearance in Tonali's announcement video. He's a bubbly character who fans and players take to.
The main issue for Maddison is his injury record as he spent a large chunk of last season on the sidelines. He missed 52 games, firstly through a knee injury before sustaining a cruciate ligament tear.
Maddison ended the campaign with just three league games under his belt. Sitting on purported wages of £170,000 (per Capology), making him the fourth-highest earner at the club, his fitness is a real concern and it's time to sell.
This is the opportune time to get a decent amount of money for the former Leicester City man. He has two years left on his contract and Spurs can continue their rebuild and show their faith in Xavi Simons.
The Dutch attacker arrived from PSV Eindhoven for £51.8m last summer but endured a difficult debut season. The 23-year-old showed signs of promise with five goals and six assists in 41 games.
Many seem to have forgotten just how big of a talent De Zerbi has in Simons. He unfortunately ended the campaign with an ACL injury but had been set to be an important player for the Netherlands at the World Cup.
Aston Villa a possible destination
A completely new-look midfield should possess Tonali and Fernandes with Simons in the 10. If Spurs can pull off the signing of Junior Kroupi from Bournemouth, that elevates the team to Champions League qualification contention.
Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke recently reported that Aston Villa could move for Maddison. They are cautious due to his injury record but are admirers.
With the Villans competing in the Champions League, Spurs can demand a decent price for the Englishman. But rather than waiting for him to enter the final year of his contract, now is the time to make the brave decision and sell.
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