Newcastle United are “willing to pay” the £60million fee needed to lure James Maddison out of Leicester City.

What’s the word?

That is according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who believes that Eddie Howe and co. are willing to meet Leicester City’s valuation of the star, despite being relatively careful with their spending across the last couple of transfer windows.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said: “Generally, they’ve been pretty careful with their spending.

“But they did splash out on Isak and they spent over £60million on him. I’m told that they would be willing to pay that for Maddison.”

Much-needed move

England international Maddison put up some astonishing numbers last season, but it took a follow-up of seven goals and four assists from his first 13 Premier League games of the season to just about turn the head of England boss Gareth Southgate, who managed to squeeze the 26-year-old into the squad. 

Despite his much-deserved inclusion for the now freshly concluded tournament in Qatar, he was not even granted a single minute on the pitch. 

This is why a move may just be needed to boost his reputation further. 

Ultimately, Maddison is always going to find it difficult to break into the side as a regular, ahead of stars who are plying their trade in top European club competition. Leicester cannot offer him that at this point in time. 

A move to Newcastle, who are currently in good stead to genuinely compete for the Champions League places, is the exact kind of move that Maddison would thrive in. 

Linking up with a side in a similar mould to Leicester, in terms of their underdog status, – as well as the fact that they have a tactically astute British coach at the helm in Howe – the move would offer similar conditions to that of the King Power Stadium but would, of course, see the star embedded into a side who aim to become Champions League regulars within the next few seasons.

This is a move that would suit both parties, with Newcastle lacking a central option who creates as many chances as Maddison’s current total of 31 chances in the league so far.