Leicester Demands Whopping £50m+ for James Maddison as Newcastle and Tottenham Vie for Signature!

Leicester City is demanding a fee exceeding £50m for James Maddison, as both Newcastle and Tottenham show significant interest in the talented English midfielder. Despite Leicester's relegation and Maddison's contract having only one year remaining, the Foxes view him as their most valuable asset and remain unwavering in their valuation.

Both Newcastle and Spurs are vying to secure the signing of Maddison, showcasing their confidence in their respective abilities to acquire him for their clubs. Newcastle's interest in Maddison dates back to the January transfer window, and they have the allure of Champions League football to entice him. On the other hand, Spurs are banking on Maddison's potential desire to play a crucial role in Ange Postecoglou's plans and his preference for residing in London.

The player and the ex-Celtic boss are both represented by the same agency, CAA Base.

Spurs initiated contact with Leicester over a week ago, although no formal offer or agreement has been made. Additionally, they inquired about winger Harvey Barnes.

Meanwhile, West Ham are one of a number of the clubs interested in Barnes and Leicester also believe he is worth north of £40m.

Barnes has been on Arsenal's radar in the past.

Analysis: Maddison among the elite

Despite Leicester's relegation, Maddison's reputation remains untarnished. Despite the club's difficult season, he was able to score 10 goals and provide nine assists in Premier League games alone.

It was a continuation of his impressive portfolio at the King Power Stadium. Throughout a span of five seasons, he has solidified his position as one of the top attacking midfielders in the Premier League.

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Maddison ranks among the best in the Premier League

Since joining Leicester from Norwich in 2018, James Maddison has established himself as a prominent figure among the elite. This is clearly reflected in the statistics, as he stands alongside esteemed players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who are the only ones to have created more chances in the Premier League during this time. Additionally, only Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane, and Heung Min-Son have managed to take more shots on goal than Maddison. His contributions extend beyond scoring and shooting, as he also ranks among the top eight players for assists and big chances created. With an impressive tally of 43 goals, Maddison has outperformed the majority of his peers, with only 18 players finding the back of the net more frequently.

The numbers add up to show why he is in such high demand. It would be no surprise to see more suitors emerge in the weeks ahead.

'Leicester won't sell stars on the cheap'

We News senior reporter Rob Dorsett:

"There will be a big clear out at Leicester. It is as simple as that.

Leicester City, however, is determined not to sell their players at a low price. As a result, there is a possibility that four or five players might depart from the club during the upcoming summer transfer window. The intriguing aspect lies in Leicester's intention to make a comeback to the Premier League next season. Consequently, they aim to avoid selling all their players now and having to repurchase them in a year's time.

"But the reality is they do have to cut their cloth accordingly and there are certain players who are Premier League players.

"James Maddison is the epitome of that."

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