Newcastle tipped to sign ‘gifted’ Maddison

Read Newcastle were critical of Newcastle United low-balling Leicester City for one of their best players this summer, but the unlikely deal is still being talked about in the media.

Despite Leicester being extra keen to hold onto their important players after failing to make a permanent signing this summer, Newcastle’s offer for Maddison is being treated as a potential deal in the making.

Tony Cascarino rates the 25-year-old highly and thinks Leicester could let Maddison go for the right price this summer. He said on talkSPORT: “James Maddison is a very gifted footballer. Great on set pieces, great on assists, can chip in with really terrific goals.”

“If they’ve offered, and we’re led to believe from what we’re seeing, if they’ve offered £40 million, it’s pretty clear that they’ll probably go to £50 million, which is tempting for Leicester.” That’s a big claim from Cascarino, as Leicester haven’t sold a first-team player this summer.

Eldin Jakupovic was released after failing to make an appearance in any competition for two years, so he was more than expendable. Leicester have retained the rest of their squad from last season, so it would take far more than £50m to pry Maddison from their fingers.

He has two years left on his deal and is in talks over a contract extension at the King Power Stadium, so his value is still high. Could Leicester even replace his 30 goals and assists last season with £50m? That’s what they must consider if they were to let him leave.

In other news, Newcastle should be wary signing Maxwell Cornet