Former Premier League striker Noel Whelan has claimed that Leicester City midfielder James Maddison would be an ideal fit for Liverpool.

Having impressed since joining the Foxes in 2018, the playmaker has emerged as an alleged transfer target for the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

However, Whelan - formerly of Leeds United and Coventry City - feels that the Englishman could act as a like-for-like replacement for Philippe Coutinho at Anfield.

The 44-year-old told Football Insider: "James Maddison is absolutely a Liverpool type of player, I can see him joining. He can be the new Coutinho. He's similar to him in many ways – great feet, can run with the ball, can see a pass that no-one else can and scores wonder goals.

"He's still young but already he's a real gem and his value is going to get higher and higher over the next few years. All the big teams will be watching him, but they will know he won't come cheap."

Maddison has scored eight goals in his 42 Premier League outings for Leicester.