CBS Sports journalist and transfer guru Ben Jacobs has cast doubt over Newcastle’s proposed move for James Maddison.
Jacobs has been speaking on the Mouth of the Tyne YouTube channel amid reports in recent days that the Toon will make the Leicester City playmaker their number one target in the January transfer window.
Maddison was the subject of multiple offers from Newcastle in the summer, with his current employers holding out for £60m.
However, while it appears that the Magpies are intent on luring the creative midfielder to St James’ Park, Jacobs has highlighted difficulties that the Tyneside club may face, with other suitors arguably better placed (literally and figuratively) for the 25-year-old.
The journalist said of Maddison: “I wouldn’t be remotely surprised now if he either signs a new deal at Leicester and a new deal doesn’t mean he’s staying, a new deal ultimately just means that it protects the sell-on value, but that makes it again much harder for Newcastle comparative to hoping that Maddison wanted the move and won’t sign a new deal and then allows Newcastle to enter the market in the January window at a lower rate.
“But what I think more likely with Maddison, from what I understand, he’ll sign a new deal at Leicester with a gentlemen’s agreement or possibly a formal clause that still allows him to leave in 2023 and then in a year’s time next summer let’s see who comes in for him in the market.
“But it wouldn’t remotely surprise me if in that year’s time if Newcastle don’t have European football if they come up against a rival who does have European football and then at that point I think that Maddison is eyeing London, he’s eyeing European football, Spurs for him would be the perfect kind of club.”
European fate could be pivotal
Once hailed as a ‘magician’ by Statman Dave, the football analyst who has appeared on BBC and Sky Sports – Maddison would certainly be a very worthwhile addition to the Newcastle line-up.
He has scored 20 times and produced a further 13 assists in all competitions since the start of last season and it is no wonder that the 25-year-old has been attracting interest from both Arsenal and Tottenham, but that could work against the Tynesiders.
While the north London duo are first and third respectively after six games, Eddie Howe’s side sit in 11th, without a win since the opening weekend. However, having already faced the top two from last season (and drawn with one of them), the 44-year-old will be hoping that Newcastle can get a few more wins on the board before the season pauses for the World Cup, with European football seemingly a potential deal-breaker in the Maddison saga.
