Newcastle United are reportedly set to return with a new €45 million bid for James Maddison in January after having two offers rebuffed last summer.
According to Fichajes, Newcastle United are plotting to launch a third bid worth €45 million to secure the services of Leicester City playmaker James Maddison in the January window.
The report mentions that Newcastle’s Saudi owners are planning to make a sizeable splash in the summer transfer window as they look to close in on their main target which is to get into the qualifying positions for the Champions League.
However, they see the winter window as an opportune market in which they can make a couple of instant impact additions that will boost their push for a European berth straight away. And the name high on Newcastle’s agenda is none other than summer transfer target James Maddison.
The Magpies were hoping to land Maddison in the summer and lodged two bids for him. Both offers well short of Leicester City’s valuation, which now seems quite reasonable given how well he has performed so far this season.
While Leicester have gotten worse, Maddison has looked even better with five goals and two assists in just seven league starts. He has pretty much single-handedly carried them in their survival bid with stunning individual displays. So it is no wonder that Newcastle were seemingly keen on adding him over the summer and will make a play once again in January.
The 25-year-old has netted 38 goals and provided 27 assists in 140 Premier League for the Foxes. And as per the report, Maddison will be Newcastle’s transfer priority again in January. Newcastle have performed admirably this season, losing only once (against Liverpool in the 98th minute) and drawing 3-3 with defending champions Manchester City at St. James’ Park.
However, prior to their 4-1 victory away to Fulham, they struggled for creativity in the absence of Bruno Guimaraes with just three goals in their four games, including profligate stalemates against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace. So signing someone of Maddison’s creative spark and swagger might provide Newcastle with that extra bit of quality needed in their push for a European spot.
However, it is unlikely that Leicester will part ways with their talisman midway through the season. Given his contract expires in the summer of 2024, Maddison could be available at a more reasonable price for Newcasle when he enters the final year of his deal at the end of the season.
