By Wayne Veysey

2nd Apr, 2023 | 1:26pm

Sources: Newcastle United now in pole position to sign James Maddison

Newcastle United are firm favourites to sign James Maddison this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

The Leicester City playmaker, 26, is out of contract in the summer of 2024 and has rejected multiple offers from the club to extend.

Leicester now expect to lose Maddison in the upcoming window and multiple top clubs are in pursuit.

The strongest interest is from Newcastle and Tottenham, with the likes of Man City and Liverpool also keeping tabs.

Newcastle are currently in pole position to land a player that sources say they regard as a Premier League “superstar”.

The north-east giants have been pursuing Maddison for over a year and have been laying the groundwork for a deal this summer.

They submitted multiple bids of up to £50million for the England international last year.

Sources have told Football Insider that a fee of between £60-70m could be enough to prise Maddison away from the Midlands club in the summer window.

Last month (14 March), sources told this site that Eddie Howe has told chiefs at St James’ Park that Maddison is one of his top targets ahead of next season.

Howe has identified the England international as a player who can slot straight into the starting XI and improve it.

Maddison’s current club are languishing at the bottom end of the table and after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace dropped into the relegation zone.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have just 25 points from 28 games and have lost four of their last five matches.

Although there is only five points separating the bottom seven teams, Leicester still face an uphill battle to stay in the Premier League next season.

In other news, Rangers plan to exploit rules to beat Newcastle & co to Jack McEvilly signing.