Newcastle United and PIF have “a growing belief” that they can bring England international James Maddison to Tyneside.
That is according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who believes that the 26-year-old Leicester playmaker is Eddie Howe’s top target as we venture ever closer to the winter transfer window.
What’s the word?
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said in relation to Newcastle: “I’d probably go as far at this point as saying James Maddison is their top target for the January transfer window in this position.
“There is, from what I can gather, a growing belief that they can get it done and convince him that this is the right way to go.”
A perfect fit
Having failed to appear at the World Cup in Qatar despite making Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad, Maddison doesn’t seem to be appreciated enough by the current England hierarchy.
The 26-year-old has made just one solitary appearance for his country and would have been hoping to add to that in the ongoing tournament.
A haul of 12 goals and eight assists from 35 Premier League appearances for Leicester last season somehow went unnoticed for the most part by Southgate, but a follow-up return of seven goals and four assists from 13 league games this term proved too good to overlook, with Maddison rightly included in England’s World Cup squad.
However, having failed to get a chance for his country despite his emphatic goal returns over the last season-and-a-half, the question remains – what more can Maddison do?
A move to Tyneside to partake in the exciting PIF-led project at Newcastle United could well be the platform that the Leicester City man craves, especially if Howe and co are able to achieve the astonishing feat of qualifying for the Champions League for next season.
At 26 years of age, the £60m-priced star seems ready to take that next step, with a switch to Howe’s Magpies looking like a perfect fit on paper for both parties.
As we approach the January transfer window, this certainly seems like one to watch.
