NEWCASTLE will reportedly “make a renewed attempt” to sign James Maddison this summer – but they face “intense competition” from Manchester City.
The Magpies have been long-time admirers of the 26-year-old Leicester City star.
They even lodged two bids worth £40million and £45m last summer.
However, both offers were turned down and the player stayed put at the King Power.
Since then Maddison has gone on to enjoy a fine campaign with the struggling Foxes and earned a place in Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad.
The ex-Coventry City and Norwich ace is back in the team at Leicester after recent injury woes and he scored his eighth goal of the season in Saturday’s 4-2 win at Aston Villa.
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Newcastle had an enquiry knocked back last month but the Northern Echo states that they “have not given up on a deal” for the attacker.
Especially since Maddison has not signed a new contract at the King Power Stadium and is in the final 18 months of his deal.
But this fresh update says that Eddie Howe’s side “are unlikely to have things their own way if Leicester decide to cash in this summer”.
And that is because Man City have also added Maddison to their own transfer wishlist.
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Pep Guardiola seems likely to lose Bernardo Silva from his squad at the end of the season.
He will task City’s recruitment team with finding a replacement with proven Premier League pedigree – and Maddison certainly fits that bill.
Discussing their summer transfer plans, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe confirmed that some wheels are already in motion but added that they are also ready with alternatives should anything change.
He said: “We would have an idea (of summer targets), but that changes.
“That can change in the blink of an eye. If you plan things right, you can look a few months ahead, but you always need to be reactive to what happens on a day-to-day basis as well.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
