"Back in...": Sky Sports journo drops NUFC transfer update, supporters will be buzzing - opinion

Newcastle United have made a shock move for James Maddison this weekend, and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s progress in completing a move for the player.

According to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth, Newcastle have seen a £40m bid rejected for the Leicester City attacking midfielder and are weighing up their options going forward.

Sheth tweeted on Saturday morning: “Leicester City have rejected a £40m bid from Newcastle United for James Maddison. Newcastle deciding whether to go back in with an improved offer. Leicester valuation thought to be closer to £60m.”

Newcastle supporters will be buzzing that the club is showing intent to strengthen the attacking threat this summer, but it will be interesting to see how he fits into Eddie Howe’s system owing to the fact that the club have bid £40m for the player – so he will clearly be a first team regular.

There is no doubt that the Leicester City star would certainly add a lot of quality to the high-pressing style that the Newcastle boss loves to play, something he proved with the Foxes last season.

Over 35 Premier League appearances, the 25-year-old scored 12 goals, delivered eight assists and created 11 big chances, as well as made an average of 1.4 key passes, 1.1 tackles and took 2.4 shots per game, in addition to winning the majority of his duels (55%) and successfully completing the majority of his dribbles too (65%).

Maddison ranked ninth for chance creation and eighth for shots on target in the entirety of the Premier League last season, proving that he is an ideal versatile playmaker that could certainly boost Newcastle’s goal-scoring opportunities.

With that being said, the signing of Maddison would be a big coup for the North