Arsenal legend believes Premier League star ‘wanted’ Newcastle United move

Arsenal legend believes Premier League star ‘wanted’ Newcastle United move

Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright has suggested Leicester City midfielder James Maddison was keen on a move to Newcastle United.

The Magpies reportedly made two separate attempts to tempt the Foxes star to Tyneside but both were rebuffed by their Premier League rivals.

Maddison still has two years left on his current contract at the King Power Stadium but is believed to be open to a move away from the club he joined in a £22.5million deal from Norwich City just over four years ago.

The 25-year-old has impressed during his time at Leicester, scoring 47 goals and providing 33 assists in 177 appearances in all competitions.

Maddison was also part of the Foxes squad that won the FA Cup in 2021, coming off the bench to replace Kelechi Iheanacho in their 1-0 win over Chelsea.

However, the talented midfielder, who is represented by the CAA Base agent that counts current United stars Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood among their clients, is one of a number of Leicester players linked with a move away from the club during the summer.

Midfielder Youri Tielemans was a target for Arsenal and Newcastle and highly-rated centre-back Wesley Fofana was a long-term target for Chelsea before completing a £70million move to Stamford Bridge.

Gunners legend Wright believes the situation at the King Power Stadium means more players could look for a way out over the coming months.

“You look at (Youri) Tielemans, linked and probably wants to leave. Maddison, he wanted to leave – Newcastle,” the former England striker said on the ‘Kelly and Wrighty Show’.

“It’s about recruitment. They are not signing that player who comes in and has such a massive impact, like (Wesley) Fofana.

“They are not signing a midfielder to come through. Hopefully Soumare might be able to do it.

“What’s happened is that the players who are there who can inspire good players who come in, they want to leave.

“So it’s really a catch 22 for them. They’re so close but it’s not happening so they’re like I can leave now.”

Maddison was one of a number of midfielder targets as Newcastle looked to strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad during the summer transfer window.