‘Gut feeling’ - Sky Sports journalist makes James Maddison to Newcastle or Tottenham prediction

James Maddison is more likely to join Newcastle United than Tottenham Hotspur, according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett.

For the second successive summer, the England international has emerged as one of the Magpies’ top targets but they aren’t prepared to meet Leicester City’s £60million valuation. The 26-year-old has just one year left on his contract and is also attracting interest from Spurs.

“Leicester are likely to want in excess of £60million for James Maddison,” Dorsett explained. “Don’t expect them to sell for anything less than £50m, and I think it would be a much higher figure than that if he had longer left on his contract. He’s got one year left on his existing contract, which leaves Leicester in a bit of a tricky situation.

“Most agents or clubs you’d speak to would tell you James Maddison is probably worth more than £50m but with a year left on his contract, that brings his value right down.

“We know Spurs and Newcastle are interested but there may be more as time passes. It’s pretty clear James Maddison will move, if the money is right. And that’s the key factor here, what is the valuation of James Maddison?”

Dorsett doubts Spurs would meet Maddison’s reported £110,000-a-week wages but has a “sneaking suspicion” Newcastle will. However, the Midlands reporter was keen to stress a potential move “comes down to meeting Leicester’s valuation”.

He continued: “Leicester pay big salaries. In the rankings, they were the seventh biggest payers in the Premier League. These players we’re talking about at Leicester - Maddison at the tip of that iceberg, are on big money. So, if they’re going to go somewhere else, they’re going to expect at least the same.

“Who can afford to pay that sort of money? I don’t think Spurs would pay the sort of salary James Maddison would want, so it does come back to Newcastle. I’ve just got this sneaking suspicion that Newcastle will probably come in for him and be prepared to pay the money.

“He’s someone they haven’t got. He can play as No.10, he can play wide. He’s a good attacking option and improves their squad. The question is, if James Maddison goes to one of the big four, does he improve their squad? Will he get enough game time?

“If you ask my gut feeling, I think it’ll be Newcastle. But, again, I stress, it comes down to meeting Leicester’s valuation and they’re not going to be in a hurry to sell any of these players because they’re hoping to get back in the Premier League.”