Newcastle will press on with talks over deal for James Maddison but will NOT go to Leicester’s £60m asking price after opening bid of £35m was rejected
- Newcastle United are set to continue negotiations over buying James Maddison
- Leicester City have set a £60m asking price, but the Magpies will not go close
- A deal for the 25-year-old could be difficult, but Newcastle remain optimistic
Newcastle want to maintain talks with Leicester over a deal for James Maddison after seeing a structured bid of £35million rejected last week.
We understand the Magpies will continue negotiations in the coming days and hope that a compromise on price can be agreed.
They will not go close to the £60m asking price that has been mooted over the weekend and sources say a deal for the 25-year-old is likely to prove difficult to complete.
Leicester City want £60m for James Maddison, but Newcastle United’s opening bid was £35m
However, Newcastle have been given some encouragement that Maddison would be keen on a move and have not given up on the midfielder.
They are aware of Brendan Rodgers’ comments on Sunday, when the Leicester boss said: ‘He’s still very much a player here. Naturally, the players are sought after because they are talents.
‘You see his performance, you see how happy he is and he’s not a player we want to sell. It’s not for me to put valuations on the players, it’s not my side, but that might just cover three-quarters of his left leg, that price. He’s a top player.’
Brendan Rodgers called Maddison ‘a top player’ over the weekend, and hopes to keep him
Newcastle have a limited budget this summer because of spending rules and any deal for Maddison would have to be structured with the promise of future payments and add-ons.
They are also interested in Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet but are reluctant to pay the entirety of his £17.5m release clause in one sum.
Eddie Howe is an admirer of both Maddison and Cornet, although it seems the former is the priority for the time being.
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