Newcastle United ‘in the running’ for £40m England star who has ‘a queue’ of clubs after him

Newcastle United are eyeing up a swoop for James Maddison after Leicester City suffered relegation from the Premier League at the weekend. The midfielder will lead a 10-man exodus ahead of the Foxes’ first season in the Championship since 2013.

That’s according to The Mirror, who report that Maddison has attracted a lot of attention from clubs looking to pounce on Leicester’s vulnerable situation. The Magpies are in the running for his signature but also face competition from the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur as they all look to strengthen their ranks ahead of what promises to be another unpredictable season.

The Foxes will be forced to sell some of their best players in order to balance the books and since Maddison has just one year left on his current deal, they will want to strike a sale rather than risk letting him leave for free next summer. Although the club value the 26-year-old at more than £50 million, it is believed that a deal for closer to £40 million could be done.

Maddison played a big role in Leicester’s attempt to avoid relegation this season. The Englishman contributed 10 goals and nine assists, finishing the campaign as the club’s second-highest goalscorer, behind only Harvey Barnes with 13 goals.

Maddison has established himself as a top goalscoring midfielder, having bagged 55 goals and 41 assists during his time at the King Power Stadium. He is also extremely versatile and can play centrally, on the wing and even as a second striker.

Newcastle will be looking to continue their strong run of form next season, having qualified for Champions League football for the first time in 20 years. A busy transfer window is expected across the board in the Premier League, with plenty of incomings and outgoings on the horizon.