Dean Jones has admitted on the Chasing Green Arrows YouTube channel that James Maddison to Newcastle United could still happen, although the player is yet to be convinced.
Newcastle have already seen two very ambitious bids knocked back for Maddison, who would have become the Magpies’ most expensive signing if they had been accepted, taking over from their now-midfield maestro, Joelinton.
However, it appears that Leicester are ready to hold firm and be tough negotiators when it comes to Maddison, with reports claiming that it will take a bid of closer to £60m for the Magpies to land the midfielder, who registered 30 goal involvements last season.
But even if a fee can be agreed, Jones doesn’t believe that the player himself is 100% sold on the move.
He said: “It is still on the cards. They’re probably going to make a third bid. Still not sure they’ll get him, I don’t think Maddison’s 100% convinced on it, and Leicester, you’ve got to make them budge and make them sell at the right price.
Should Newcastle sign Maddison?
Yes!
No!
“What Newcastle like is that Maddison can be used centrally, but he’ll go to the right side, basically, like they see him just fading out to the right and delivering down that channel.”
TIF Thoughts on interest in Maddison…
It would certainly be a signing of intent from Newcastle if they could lure Maddison to Tyneside as he had a stunning season last time out, registering 30 goal involvements across all competitions, which is by far and away more than what any Newcastle player managed.
However, if the Magpies are also wanting to bring in another striker this summer – and perhaps a midfielder following Jonjo Shelvey’s hamstring surgery – splashing £60m on Maddison may not be the most sensible deal to complete.
So given that the interest is there, it seems as though Newcastle will have to weigh up whether a heavy outlay on Maddison would be worth it in the long run as they look to utilise the remainder of their transfer budget accordingly heading into the final weeks of the window.