Newcastle Transfer Update: Eddie Howe Eyeing Dual Deal for James Maddison and AC Milan's Sandro Tonali - Latest Reports

Newcastle United's interest in James Maddison persists; however, securing a deal for the English midfielder may become more challenging if they succeed in finalizing the signing of AC Milan's Sandro Tonali. The Magpies are actively pursuing a potential £55m agreement with Tonali and will subsequently evaluate the Maddison situation upon the completion of the transfer.

We have been informed that Newcastle is currently unable to afford the purchase of Maddison and Tonali from Leicester City due to their asking price of over £50m. This is because acquiring both players would pose a risk of breaching financial fair play regulations.

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James Maddison ranks among the best in the Premier League

Manager Eddie Howe has opted to prioritize the acquisition of a defensive midfielder like Tonali rather than pursuing the more attacking Maddison. Newcastle's hierarchy shares this sentiment, as they believe they already have viable alternatives with players possessing a similar profile to Maddison, notably Bruno Guimaraes.

Newcastle has not completely dismissed the idea of reaching an agreement with Leicester at a later stage, particularly if the club that has recently been relegated is willing to significantly lower their asking price. Another possibility is if Howe decides to explore the option of funding the deal by selling another player. It is worth noting that Maddison's current contract with Leicester is set to expire in one year.

Tottenham currently holds the upper hand in the race for a potential Maddison transfer, although they still have a significant gap to bridge in terms of Leicester's valuation. On the other hand, Manchester United, who have been admirers of Maddison for a while, have chosen to focus their efforts on securing a deal for Mason Mount instead.

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