It has been no secret over the summer that there are many admirers of Peterborough United playmaker Marcus Maddison, and a move to the Championship seemed certain. However, with just over a week to go, Maddison remains with The Posh and has started to feature in the first team picture again. So, are the clubs chasing Maddison set for disappointment?
The Marcus Maddison transfer saga foes all the way back to the end of last season, when Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony honoured an agreement he made with Maddison where he would be placed on the transfer list if Posh failed to get promoted.
After his placement on the transfer list, Championship clubs had their sights on Maddison. Derby County, Aston Villa, Leeds United, Reading and Blackburn Rovers have all been strongly linked with moves for the playmaker, but nothing is yet to materialise.
Darragh MacAnthony has been asked endless amounts of questions regarding the 24-year-old, revealing that clubs have triggered his £2.5m release clause, but deals have either hit a dead end or fallen part due to personal terms.
Maddison stayed in England while the rest of the Posh squad flew to Portugal for a pre-season camp, and only featured in friendly against Potton United.
However, the final weeks of the window for permanent deals came and went, and Maddison remained a Peterborough United player. Speculation about his transfer movements began to slow down, and a move away is looking surprisingly unlikely. The former Newcastle United youth player has been integrated back into Posh’s new look squad, and was an unused sub in their 3-1 win at home to Luton last Saturday.
Maddison made his first competitive appearance of the season last night, coming off the bench and providing the cross that led to Ivan Toney being pushed down in the box, winning a penalty. Nottingham Forest loanee Jason Cummings converted, and Maddison’s return was announced in impressive style.
With eight days until the end of the window, manager Steve Evans is keen to bring Maddison into the squad, to help him blend with the new squad – which he will need to do if he is set to stay for at least until, January. His involvement in the first team picture hints that interest in Maddison has slowed down, as when speculation was rife earlier in the summer, he was nowhere near the first team squad and wasn’t being risked.
The window for loan deals remains open, and Maddison will be keen to seal the Championship move he craves. It really is surprising seeing Maddison still at Posh with just eight days remaining in the transfer window. Without a doubt, he has been one of the best players in League One for the past three seasons, and has the flair, ability and creative spark to impress at Championship level.
Time will tell to see if Marcus Maddison remains at Peterborough United beyond the end of August, but at £2.5m, Championship clubs are missing out on a bargain if they pass up the chance to bring in the playmaker.
