Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell says Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United transfer target James Maddison was ‘brilliant’ for England during their win over Ukraine.
The Leicester City playmaker was handed his first England start on Sunday and he produced the goods for Gareth Southgate’s side despite not getting on the scoresheet – Bukayo Saka certainly felt that he ‘deserved’ to score.
There is a big reason why Champions League-chasing Newcastle United want the player on board, with his contract having less than 18 months left to run at the King Power Stadium.
Of course, given James Maddison’s goalscoring ability from the middle of the park, the Magpies aren’t the only interested party, as Tottenham would ‘love’ to bring the player to north London.
Over the course of the Premier League season, the 26-year-old has nine goals from his 20 games, including six assists. That’s after he netted 12 goals last term.
Not since Ben Chiwell and James Maddison’s days at Leicester City have they trained or played together, with the Chelsea man talking about their reunion at St Geroge’s Park and his performance, as he told Hayters TV.
“We spoke before the game and we had a laugh about it,” said Chilwell. “It’s a little throwback. Not played together. Not trained together for nearly three years since I was at Leicester, so it was nice.
“He is one of my good friends, so it was nice for us to share that moment.
“I said to him after the game that I thought he was brilliant. Everything he did was clean. He kept the ball. He started a few attacks. Everyone knows the quality he possesses. I think he showed them.”
NEWCASTLE WOULD BE A VERY GOOD MOVE FOR MADDISON
The England international needs to be playing in Europe next season and Newcastle can provide that, but it all depends on where they finish.
They are battling Tottenham for fourth spot – and as Jamie Redknapp claimed, Newcastle and Liverpool will be ‘loving’ the news and drama around Spurs after Antonio Conte’s sacking.
All in all, how things pan out, might just have an effect on where players like Maddison end up because they want to go right to the top.
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