Newcastle United have been heavily linked with a move for Leicester City midfielder James Maddison in recent months.
What’s the word?
Reports over the summer suggested that the Magpies had made an offer of around £50m in an attempt to prise the Englishman from the King Power Stadium, albeit with the Foxes having been demanding more than £60m to part ways with their star asset.
Further speculation since the close of the window has suggested that the northeast side could look to make another approach in January, with the hope being that Eddie Howe and co can tempt the Midlands outfit into a sale with the player’s existing deal set to expire in just over 18 months’ time.
Amid those rumours, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – has given his backing to the deal, with the transfer insider stating:
“When you look at it, that could be a good move for James Maddison.
“It could be something a bit different to the norm and rather than going to a Manchester City, a Liverpool or whoever it may be that’s interested and struggling to get in the team, you’d obviously be one of the first names on the team-sheet at Newcastle.”
Built for a World Cup?
As Downie alluded to, any deal in the winter window could well represent a ‘good move’ for both Maddison himself and also those at St James’ Park, with Newcastle set to provide the playmaker with the platform to shine even brighter at such an ambitious outfit.
The 25-year-old has been in blistering form in the early months of the current campaign, having scored six goals and provided four assists in just 12 Premier League games thus far, having previously scored 12 times and registered eight assists in the top-flight last term.
Such form over an extended period of time has unsurprisingly sparked debate regarding the £110k-per-week man’s potential involvement in the upcoming World Cup, with it yet to be seen if the Coventry-born ace will be included in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad when it is confirmed later this week.
The former Norwich City man has just a solitary cap to his name thus far – potentially hindering his chances of an inclusion – although has received backing from across the game of late, with pundit Jamie Redknapp suggesting it would be a “travesty” if Maddison was omitted from the travelling party.
The highly-rated star has also earned the support of club boss Brendan Rodgers who recently suggested that the 5 foot 9 menace is “built for a World Cup“, having also dubbed him “one of the best players in the Premier League.”
Howe and co will likely still be keen on a move regardless of whether their long-term target does go on to impress in Qatar, with it set to be a huge coup for the Magpies if they are able to pull off a deal in the New Year.
