Sources: Newcastle United told £60m bid will seal James Maddison deal
Leicester City have slapped a £60million price tag on James Maddison after rejecting a £40m offer from Newcastle United, sources have told Football Insider.
The north-east giants submitted the bid for the 25-year-old on Friday as they look to exploit Leicester’s lack of funds.
Brendan Rodgers’ side knocked it back but are willing to cash in on Maddison if their £60m asking price is met.
The playmaker has been identified as a top target for Eddie Howe ahead of the new campaign and Newcastle are now weighing up an improved offer.
It will take a club-record bid to seal a deal for the England international, who has long been regarded as one of the outstanding Premier League players outside of the ‘Big Six’ clubs.
Maddison has two years remaining on his contract, after signing an improved deal in August 2020.
Leicester could now open talks over another new contract, in order to fend off the big-money interest in one of their prize assets.
Signed for £25m from Norwich City in June 2018, Maddison has been an integral player during Rodgers’ reign and had an outstanding 2021-22 campaign that yielded 18 goals and 12 assists from 53 matches in all competitions.
Leicester are the only Premier League club not to sign a single senior player this summer and need to sell to raise funds for purchases.
That suggests Newcastle could be tempted to make an improved bid for Maddison as they look to exploit the Foxes’ financial fair play issues.
Newcastle have signed Sven Botman, Matt Targett and Nick Pope this summer.
In other news, Aston Villa in advanced talks to agree Luiz deal after Newcastle United bid.