Newcastle United duo ‘tapping up’ £50m star as England boss makes transfer claim

Gareth Southgate has joked his England players are “tapping each other up on the quiet” ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League season.

Several members of Southgate’s squad, including Declan Rice, Harry Kane and James Maddison, are the subject of summer transfer speculation.

Newcastle United are weighing up another move for Maddison, who they attempted to sign 12 months ago but had two bids rejected.

Leicester City, relegated from the Premier League, are ready to demand over £50million for the 26-year-old. Tottenham Hotspur are also interested.

Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson are on international duty with the midfielder. The latter uploaded a photo of him grabbing Maddison in training last week with the teasing caption “Newcastle is this way @MADDERS”.

Ahead of facing North Macedonia at Old Trafford in their Euro 2024 qualifier tonight (kick-off 7:45pm), Southgate was asked if transfer talk was affecting his players, and he revealed there has been some light-hearted “tapping up” in his ranks.

“I haven’t felt the need to say anything,” said the Three Lions boss. “I mean, the players are tapping each other up anyway on the quiet, so I can’t do anything about that!

“What I have said is that these things run their course, they happen in their own time, you can’t force it as a player. Don’t get frustrated, don’t be asking all summer. You don’t need to be updated on every call that happens.

“There’s a lot of negotiation that goes on. I remember as a player getting too wrapped up in every detail of that. In the end, there’s only a small amount that you can actually control.

“I think all of those things will happen later on in the summer and I think the players understand that, really.

“And they know the focus for the next 36 hours is this game, finishing the season well, making sure we’re set on 12 points and we’ll be in a very healthy position if we do that.”