Journalist shares transfer twist in Newcastle & Tottenham’s push for James Maddison

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In a possible transfer twist, Alex Crook has shared that Tottenham Hotspur are ‘front-runners’ for Leicester City star James Maddison and not Newcastle United.

The talkSPORT reporter added that Newcastle United are ‘surprised’ that they have been reported to be ‘leading the race’ for the goalscoring midfielder.

Following Leicester’s relegation, James Maddison is getting a lot of interest for his talents and it has been suggested by Crook that the player ‘prefers a move to London’, as he told talkSPORT Breakfast (14/06/23 at 9:50 am).

It seems as though a number of factors could come into account here, including location, money and Champions League football.

The Magpies can offer the latter, whereas Tottenham won’t be playing any form of Europe next season after finishing eighth in the league.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if this transfer saga involving Maddison just drags on and on, with Crook sharing the latest on the 26-year-old.

“I think Newcastle are surprised that they are in the box seat,” said Crook. “I am told that Maddison prefers a move to London.

“Obviously, if you go to Newcastle, then you have Champions League football. I am not saying it definitely won’t happen.

“But, at the moment, I would make Tottenham the front-runners. He is a player that Ange Postecoglou believes he could build his re-build around.

“Again, the stumbling block is the fee. I am told that Leicester are looking up to £60 million. That’s quite a lot of money for a player who has just been relegated to the Championship. I am not sure there is going to be a quick resolution here. He is on Newcastle’s list, for sure, they tried to sign him last summer.”

Is Maddison worth £60m?

That seems to be the price Leicester are putting on their star man’s head as they prepare for a season in England’s second-tier.

Surely, if you are Newcastle and Spurs, you don’t pay that type of money because the Foxes are well on the back foot here and they know that they have to sell because of their situation.

That’s why it wouldn’t be a surprise if one of England’s most ‘intelligent’ players is still being talked about during the final weeks of the 2023 summer transfer window.