Journalist John Gibson has urged Newcastle United to sign ‘proper midfielder’ James Maddison as a priority in January.
Over the summer, the Magpies made a number of signings to bulk up their squad, including the likes of Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Matt Targett, and Nick Pope but they didn’t add to the middle of the park.
In fact, in an attempt to do so, Newcastle reportedly made two bids, up to as much as £50m for the Leicester City star. However, that wasn’t enough to convince the Foxes to sell Maddison.
While talking about the midfielder on the Everything is Black and White podcast, Gibson said he would be ‘sitting on cloud nine’ if they could sort a deal for the Englishman in January.
He explained: “Would you play Maddison? Or would you play [Jonjo] Shelvey? Maddison by a million miles every day – creates them and scores them. That’s who we should get in January.
“Now if we get him in January, I’d be sitting on cloud nine because he is the sort of player – I’d still want to forward, by the way – but I’d be sitting on cloud nine, he’s a proper midfielder.”
Should NUFC spend big on James Maddison this winter?
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TIF thoughts on James Maddison and Newcastle…
Of course, the Magpies did improve their midfield in January as they spent big on Bruno Guimaraes, but it seems as though they could use a partner for the Brazilian.
To be fair, the club haven’t quite been at their best so far this season, winning just once, losing another, and then drawing the other five matches in the Premier League. And so, Maddison could be the man to give them that much-needed edge in tight games.
The Leicester man – hailed “sensational” by BBC commentator Tony Husband – has impressed in recent times too. Indeed, last season he scored 18 goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions while this term he already has four direct league goal contributions to his name.