Newcastle’s £40m bid for Maddison
NEWCASTLE have made an improved club-record offer for Leicester City’s James Maddison in the hope that a deal can be agreed this week. Sources say the second bid is in excess of £40million after a structured package of £35m was rejected last week. However, it is still some way short of Leicester’s £60m asking price and a compromise would have to be reached. The Magpies have been given encouragement that the 25-year-old is interested in a move to Tyneside. Sportsmail also understands that Leicester have shown an interest in Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, with Foxes stopper Kasper Schmeichel set to join Nice. Newcastle have a limited budget this summer because of Financial Fair Play restrictions and any deal for Maddison would have to be structured with the promise of future payments and add-ons. It could yet include a player swap. Newcastle are also interested in Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet but are reluctant to pay his £17.5m release clause in one go. Eddie Howe is an admirer of Maddison and Cornet, although the former is the priority. Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers was far from unequivocal when asked yesterday if Maddison was off-limits.
‘Within the club there is a financial situation which isn’t ideal in terms of wanting to do business,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t mean we will be exploited. You don’t want to lose your best players and then not be able to bring any in. That doesn’t stack up. With James, he is looking the best he has in my time here, in terms of his level of confidence and physicality. A player of that talent there will be interest as well. He is a joy to work with. He is really pivotal to us and there is no way I would want to sell him.’