Leicester City are reportedly set to demand a hefty transfer fee for James Maddison’s services this summer, with Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle all linked with a move for the 26-year-old ahead of next season. Maddison will be looking to leave the King Power Stadium in the next few months as the Foxes prepare for a championship comeback with little hope of surviving the final days of the season.
Maddison will be one of a number of players set to leave Leicester should relegation be confirmed in the next few days, with the former Norwich City midfielder one of the club’s most important assets since joining in 2018 Are. The Premier League are believed to be keeping an eye on Maddison’s position ahead of the summer transfer window, but regardless of what league Leicester will play in next season, the move to sign him will not come cheap.
According to the Daily Mail, the Foxes will demand a minimum transfer fee of £50m from Maddison, but they fear an offer of this size will be few and far between if they drop to the Championship at the end of the current campaign. , It suggests there is room for some wiggle room should United, Tottenham and Newcastle decide to firm up their interest in Maddison when the tender starts next month.
The midfielder, who has registered 10 goals and 9 assists in the Premier League for Leicester this season, is currently only tied until the summer of 2024 and has no intention of signing an existing contract extension just yet. He has been tipped for a possible move to Old Trafford in the last few months, and Erik ten Haag could potentially be on the market for at least one new midfielder ahead of his second season in charge of the Red Devils.
Tottenham are also known to have a strong desire to sign Maddison, but any offer will hinge on the club’s wishes for a new manager if appointed by chairman Daniel Levy at the right time. Meanwhile, former England striker Darren Bent is already urging Newcastle to settle for a deal this summer, with allegations being made that Newcastle are also scrambling to land Maddison on the other side.
“James Madison is definitely one of those players.” Asked about the player, Bent told talkSPORT Newcastle should be aiming to host Champions League football at St James’ Park next season. “Creative midfielder, I think he needed it. Leicester were so poor but he set his standards very high. I think he will do well at Newcastle.”
Maddison was also urged to move to Newcastle by former West Ham ace Frank McAvennie in an interview with Football Insider earlier this year. They didn’t know if they would be able to make it to the league last year.
“It’s a trip. I think it’s madness not to go there. They’ll love it there too. They’ll buy it again and they’ll get better and it won’t take them long to win the cup.”