Newcastle United have reportedly launched an improved bid in excess of £45 million for Leicester City star James Maddison, who wants a move to St. James’ Park.
According to Luke Edwards, Newcastle United have put in a second and improved offer worth £45 million for Leicester City playmaker James Maddison as Eddie Howe looks to bolster his team before the summer transfer window slams shut.
Newcastle United have had considerable success in getting excellent value for money, bringing in the likes of Matt Targett, Nick Pope, and Sven Botman for relatively modest prices. Additions in the final third, though, have proven to be a difficult task thanks to the inflated prices of their targets.
The latest name doing the rounds on the rumour mill is that of Leicester City playmaker James Maddison, who still has two years left on his deal at the King Power Stadium. The 25-year-old enjoyed a stellar season despite Leicester’s woes, notching up 18 goals and 12 assists for the Foxes across all competitions.
The England international has been identified as Eddie Howe’s top target this summer, with the Newcastle chiefs ready to blow a big chunk of their leftover budget on the player. The former Bournemouth manager currently has Joelinton, Jonjo Shelvey, Joe Willock, and Bruno Guimaraes at his disposal to offer any kind of creativity and drive from the midfield areas.
In the wide areas, the likes of Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin can provide a buzzing presence when in top gear. Despite this, Newcastle are found lacking in creativity in the final third at times, with Howe viewing Maddison as an elite supplier to fix the problem and add an extra edge to his attack.
Recent reports claimed that the Magpies had lodged a £40 million bid for the Leicester City midfielder, which fell way short of the Foxes’ valuation of over £60 million for their talismanic midfielder. Indeed, the opening bid was swiftly turned down by the ex-Premier League champions, but Newcastle have not given up on the hunt.
Newcastle have returned with a fresh bid, increasing the base fee to over £45 million to be spread across several years. They believe that they will eventually lure Leicester City into parting ways with Maddison in the negotiations down the line.
It is added that Newcastle have also been informed that Maddison would like to make the switch to St. James’ Park. And with Leicester currently in a financial hole in this summer’s transfer window, there is increased optimism in the Newcastle camp that a deal could be done for the versatile midfielder.
Last season was difficult for the Foxes as they slipped out of contention for a European spot. And after becoming a prime hunting ground for Premier League elites, they are unlikely to contest for those spots in the coming season.
The Magpies, on the other hand, are on the upward trajectory under their new ambitious owners, which may be a major draw for someone like Maddison, who wants to be a mainstay in the English national team. Negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days, and whether the two Premier League clubs can find a middle ground remains to be seen.