Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has claimed that James Maddison would be a game changer for Newcastle United if they signed him this summer.
Newcastle United have shown interest in James Maddison this summer, but they had their second bid rejected by fellow Premier League side Leicester City, with the fee said to be around the £50m mark, with the Foxes reportedly setting a price tag of £60m on their attacking midfielder.
The Magpies have signed just three players this summer, and with Matt Targett already being at the club last season on loan, so just two new faces have been added to the squad, but they impressed on the opening day of the season against Nottingham Forest when they won 2-0.
With Newcastle already having two bids rejected for Maddison, Bridge spoke to GiveMeSport and claimed that if he signed then it would guarantee them a top 10 finish.
“If I were Newcastle, I’d just do it. But I understand their stance at the moment, with FFP and everything, and I admire the way they say they won’t be held to ransom. I just feel with him though: 25, English, game changer. You immediately, with Maddison, guarantee you finish above Leicester, you get guaranteed top 10, and you’ve got a really good English player on your books for a long time,” Bridge said.
Which position needs improving first?Striker!
Right wing!
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TIF Thoughts on Bridge’s comments…
Maddison has been in fine for Leicester in recent times, he contributed with 20 goals in 35 top-flight games last season and got an assist on the opening day of this season against Brentford, so he would undoubtedly make a difference to the Newcastle side.
However, Newcastle United did in fact play a flat midfield three on the opening day of the season, so if Maddison was to come in, he might have to play on a slightly deeper role rather than his natural number 10 role, so it would be interesting to see if that impacted his numbers.
Newcastle had an impressive second half of the season last term which led them to an 11th place finish, and they looked a real force on the opening day of this season, so Maddison might be thinking that if he is playing regular football in a more successful side, then his chance of getting in the England squad for November could increase, so this could play a part on whether he moves or not.