Newcastle made an improved offer for Leicester midfielder James Maddison; Magpies had opening £40m bid rejected for the 25-year-old at the weekend and the latest offer was more than the initial proposal; Wesley Fofana hints at Leicester exit with cryptic message
The Magpies saw their opening £40m bid rejected at the weekend and the latest offer was understood to be over that figure.
Leicester are believed to value Maddison, who joined the Foxes for £24m from Norwich in June 2018, at closer to £60m.
Newcastle are now deciding whether to return with an improved offer or focus on other targets.
If Newcastle were to complete a deal for the Foxes midfielder, Maddison would become the club’s record signing – eclipsing the £40m they paid Hoffenheim for Joelinton in July 2019.
Newcastle are now deciding whether to return with an improved offer or focus on other targets.
If Newcastle were to complete a deal for the Foxes midfielder, Maddison would become the club’s record signing – eclipsing the £40m they paid Hoffenheim for Joelinton in July 2019
Maddison scored 18 goals and provided 12 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions for Leicester last season.
Eddie Howe remains keen to strengthen his squad despite some setbacks in the transfer market this summer, having been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Everton midfielder Anthony Gordon, while French striker Hugo Ekitike opted for a move to Paris Saint-Germain instead of Newcastle.
The north east club have made three summer signings so far with the arrivals of Aston Villa left-back Matt Targett, Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope and Lille defender Sven Botman.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers wants to keep Maddison and joked after Sunday’s 1-0 friendly win over Sevilla that £40m would buy “three-quarters of his left leg”.
Leicester, who are the only top-flight side yet to make a signing this summer, still need to sell to bring in reinforcements but Rodgers insisted they will not be taken advantage of over Maddison or others.
“There is obviously, within the club, a financial situation which isn’t ideal in terms of wanting to do business. It doesn’t mean we will be exploited and we don’t want to be losing our best players,” he said.
“You don’t want to lose your best players and then not be able to bring any in. That doesn’t stack up.
“With James, he is looking the best he has in my time here. He is a joy to work with. I love him as a young guy, seeing him grow from when I first came in to a 25-year-old father.
“He is really pivotal to us. There is no way I would want to sell him.”
