Newcastle United are going to be one of the most intriguing teams to watch as we approach the end of the summer transfer window, and if Dan Ashworth gets it his way, James Maddison may be the Tyneside club’s next signing.
The Leicester City midfielder has been the subject of two bids from Newcastle so far, and a third is reportedly being prepared.
It’s a very real possibility that Maddison ends up at St James’ Park, and if he does, that will leave Eddie Howe with something of a headache to contend with.
Maddison, of course, goes straight into the Newcastle starting XI. After all, he would be the club’s record signing if he were to arrive, but the real selection headache would be regarding the club’s set-piece takers.
Indeed, if Maddison came in, Howe would have to make a huge call on whether or not the Leicester City star takes over free-kick duty from Kieran Trippier.
The England right-back is undoubtedly one of the best set-piece takers on the planet, he scored back-to-back free-kicks for Newcastle last term, while his goal against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-final was a sight to behold.
There’s a reason Trippier is known as the Bury Beckham, but unfortunately for the full-back, he’s not the only player to have earned comparisons to Goldenballs.
Indeed, Maddison himself has been compared to Becks, and he actually has more direct free-kick goals in his career than Trippier, despite being substantially younger.
In terms of stats, Maddison is the clear choice, he’s scored 13 free-kicks in his club career compared to Trippier’s seven, but Trippier’s free-kick prowess has served Newcastle well ever since his arrival, so taking that from him at this point would be more than a bit harsh.
Of course, it’s great to have both of these options available to you, but we certainly don’t envy Howe for having to pick between Trippier and Maddison when it comes to set-piece duty.
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