Leicester star James Maddison could finally force his way back into the England setup next year amid claims Newcastle are planning to send a new bid for him in January.
Newcastle were hoping to land Maddison during the summer transfer window and made two bids for him. These reportedly came in at £40million and then £50m.
However, the Magpies didn’t match Leicester’s price tag, which is thought to be around £60m. As such, Leicester pushed the offers back.
When asked about the situation in early August, Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers said: “He’s still very much a player here.
“Naturally the players are sought after because they are talents. You see his performance, you see how happy he is and he’s not a player we want to sell.
“It’s not for me to put valuations on the players, it’s not my side, but that might just cover three-quarters of his left leg, that price. He’s a top player.”
Leicester did lose Maddison’s team-mate Wesley Fofana as he went to Chelsea in a whopping £75m transfer. However, the English playmaker remained at the King Power as Newcastle decided not to submit a third proposal for him.
Maddison was one of Leicester’s top performers last season and he has carried his good form into the new campaign. Three goals and one assist have already come his way in six Premier League outings.
Leicester may be languishing in the relegation zone, but Maddison is not content to see his form drop.
Unfortunately for the attacking midfielder, he is still out of Gareth Southgate’s plans for the England squad. The Three Lions boss left Maddison out of the 28-man squad for the recent games against Italy and Germany.
But that could be about to change. If Maddison makes a big-money move away from Leicester in January, then this could get Southgate’s attention.
And if he joins a team that is on the up, in contrast with Leicester, then this would only help his claim for international football.
Newcastle preparing to go back in for James Maddison
According to The Times, Newcastle are planning to rescue Maddison’s England dreams and submit a new bid for him this winter.
Eddie Howe remains keen on freshening up his attack with the signing of the former Norwich ace. To keep their manager happy, Newcastle will resultantly make an offer for him.
The report doesn’t reveal how much the proposal will be worth. However, Newcastle chiefs are counting on a few factors to try and help smooth over the negotiations with Leicester.
Firstly, Maddison revealing his desire to move on would weaken Leicester’s position. If he tells Leicester he hopes to join Newcastle, then they will be more inclined to sell so he doesn’t stay and potentially worsen the dressing room atmosphere.
Secondly, there is the player’s contract situation. His current deal expires in June 2024. This puts Leicester in a decent position, although the closer he gets to becoming a free agent, the less they will be able to command for him.
Another factor to consider is where Leicester are in the table when Newcastle make their move. If they remain towards the bottom, then Maddison would rightly be able to say he wants to play for a team that can challenge the top six.
If Leicester turn things around and get back into the top 10, though, Maddison would be more content to stay where he is.
A transfer to Newcastle certainly looks like the best solution for Maddison if he retains his England aspirations. The Magpies want to qualify for Europe in the near future, and this would give Maddison an extra platform to impress.
Leicester, meanwhile, appear to be on a downward spiral, which is doing little to aid Maddison’s career.
