Graeme Souness makes transfer claim on Newcastle target James Maddison

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Graeme Souness has claimed that Leicester City playmaker and rumoured Newcastle United target James Maddison could cost as much as £100m.

Speaking on Sky Sports after Manchester United’s 3-0 win over the Foxes, the Scottish pundit lauded the playmaker despite Leicester’s result, with Souness saying when asked about Maddison’s valuation: “Over £100m for him. Chelsea spent £110m on Fernandez, you’re buying potential with him, whereas Maddison is a great now player.”

The Northern Echo have recently reported that Maddison is at the top of Newcastle’s transfer list heading into the summer window, where the midfielder’s contract will be in its final year as the Magpies look to land the Leicester star at a cut-rate deal.

With nine goals and five assists in the Premier League this season, Maddison has been one of the best English players in the division, and it’s no surprise why Newcastle have made the 26-year-old one of their top targets for the upcoming window.

However, with Souness claiming that Maddison could be worth as much as £100m, Newcastle will be hopeful that they won’t have to pay anything remotely close to this valuation, especially with the playmaker’s contract coming to and end in 2024.

Indeed, whilst Maddison is one of the best in the Premier League, no club will be willing to pay close to £100m for the Leicester star, especially at the age of 26, with the midfielder having next-to-no resale value no matter where the England international ends up next.

Graeme Souness is crazy to value James Maddison that highly

Transfer valuations have ballooned in recent weeks in large part due to Chelsea’s transfer strategy under Todd Boehly. Yet even with Maddison as good as he is, Souness’ suggestion that the Leicester star could be worth £100m is a bit crazy, to say the least.

As mentioned, the England star will have little resale value that clubs are now looking at when looking to go big on new signings, and for Newcastle, Maddison will not have the benefit of age on his side with the playmaker at the peak of his career.