Newcastle United submitted a £40million offer for Leicester City playmaker James Maddison on Friday, according to reports.
So far this summer, Newcastle have added Nick Pope and Sven Botman to their senior squad after signing them from Burnley and Lille respectively. They also made January’s loan deal with Aston Villa for Matt Targett permanent.
Almost a month has passed since their most recent senior signing, though. Some fans will be hoping they can add further to their squad in the remaining month of the transfer window.
Now, it has emerged that they have made a move for Leicester attacking midfielder James Maddison. According to the Daily Telegraph, they sent a £40m bid to his current employers Leicester on Friday.
It would just about match the club-record investment in Joelinton if successful for Newcastle. What’s more, it would enable Leicester to approximately double the money they spent to sign Maddison from Norwich City in 2018.
However, it was not enough to tempt the Foxes into a sale, so they rejected the offer. In fact, they may try to tie the 25-year-old down to a new contract; his current deal only has two years remaining on it.
In the meantime, Newcastle are pondering whether to go in with an improved offer for Maddison.
Sky Sports have also discovered details about the story. They reveal that Leicester’s valuation of the one-cap England international is closer to £60m.
If Newcastle were to go that high, Maddison would become their club-record signing, surpassing Joelinton comfortably. As for Leicester, it would be their third highest sale ever, after Harry Maguire and Riyad Mahrez.
Leicester stance could lead to sale
Brendan Rodgers’ side are yet to make a signing of their own this summer. If anything, their ranks could be depleted, since they are working to remain within Financial Fair Play parameters.
Hence, they might have to cash in one of their prize assets. Maddison is among their most valuable players, having contributed 45 goals and 32 assists from 170 games for them so far. His tally included 18 goals (one of which came against Newcastle) and 12 assists from 53 appearances last season.
Indeed, Maddison was Leicester’s top scorer in all competitions during the 2021-22 campaign. It looks as if he will start the new season – which begins at home to Brentford on August 7th – among their ranks.
But where he is by the end of the transfer window on September 1st will be another matter.
James Maddison would improve Newcastle
Since joining Leicester, Maddison has progressed impressively. Last season was his best for goal contributions in the Premier League.
However, Leicester ended up finishing eighth, just outside the European places, after a season in which they had to do without several key players at times.
Now, it will be interesting to see whether they can aspire back towards the top seven. Meanwhile, Newcastle are showing ambition to establish themselves there in the medium-to-long term.
Maddison is the kind of player who would help them become more competitive. Classy on the ball and effective in the final third, he would give Newcastle style and substance.
They have been looking for another attacking midfielder. If they opt to raise their offer for Maddison and manage to get their man, they would benefit from his consistency.
But they have vowed ever since their Saudi-backed takeover that they will not spend huge sums just because they can. Instead, they will be judging each target’s value accordingly.
It is now up to them to decide whether they think somewhere closer to £60m would be a fair price for Maddison. Perhaps a compromise with Leicester somewhere in the middle would be reasonable, but the Foxes have been tough sellers in recent years.
Therefore, they will be doing their best to get a good deal for Maddison, whether that means him staying or going.