Newcastle now in 'tough position' to sign £60m star at St James' Park | OneFootball

Newcastle United are in a ‘tough position’ as Leicester City star James Maddison is unlikely to seal a switch to St James’ Park in January, according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.

The Magpies may have smashed their club-record transfer fee in order to lure Alexander Isak to Tyneside during the summer window, but head coach Eddie Howe has set his sights on making another big-money acquisition in the months ahead.

What’s the latest news involving Maddison?

Respected Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Newcastle tabled two official bids for Maddison during the summer transfer window, but they were unable to reach an agreement with Leicester.

The Foxes reportedly value the 25-year-old at £60million, while the Magpies’ most lucrative proposal fell £10million short of that figure.

It seems that Newcastle’s interest is not going away as, according to 90min, they have set their sights on sealing Maddison’s arrival in 2023.

The report suggests the one-cap England international has a number of Premier League admirers and has been identified as a primary target by Howe.

It is understood that Tottenham Hotspur also considered signing Maddison before the new season got underway.

What has Ben Jacobs said about Maddison?

Jacobs believes that Maddison is not interested in completing a mid-season switch to Newcastle and will reassess his options next summer.

The journalist feels the Magpies will only be able to turn the playmaker’s head if they are challenging for European football come the turn of the year, while it is a similar story for fellow target Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT: “From talking to sources close to him, I’m not sure that he thinks that’s the best move in January.

“It becomes quite important for Newcastle to show that they’re on course, suddenly, for European football. Otherwise, I think Maddison won’t go to Newcastle in January. I think he will wait and say, ‘let’s see where you are at Newcastle in the summer’ because he’s that confident that his form is deserving of European football and, specifically, Champions League football.

“That puts Newcastle in quite a tough position with Maddison, much like Mudryk. They’re not going to have that lure in January and, at the moment, they’re in mid-table mediocrity.”

Will Leicester be open to selling Maddison in January?

Leicester are currently struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table and, if they are still in that position come the transfer window, it is unlikely that they would want to sanction the departure of one of their key men.

The Foxes are keen to keep Maddison at the King Power Stadium and have opened talks over a new contract.

However, if fresh terms are not agreed, the attacking midfielder will enter the final 18 months of his £110,000-per-week deal at the turn of the year and Leicester could opt to cash-in.