Manager claims Newcastle offer for ‘top player’ is nowhere near his valuation, Magpies £20m away

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Newcastle United want James Maddison but Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has made it clear that he wants to keep the playmaker.

The Magpies are seeking attacking additions and have mostly been targeting wingers and strikers of late.

Yet one way to bolster Newcastle’s attacking output may be to add more playmaking ability and there have been links to Lucas Paqueta of Lyon.

Newcastle want to find value for money in the transfer market and have turned to Maddison – but their first offer has been rejected.

Newcastle United want James Maddison

Reports on Saturday suggested that Newcastle had offered £40million for Maddison in the hope of luring him to St James’ Park.

Unfortunately for Newcastle, Leicester said no and intend to hold out for around £60million.

Newcastle are weighing up a new offer but whether they are prepared to go up to that price tag remains to be seen.

Maddison, 25, somehow seemed to go under the radar last season despite enjoying a superb season with Leicester.

Maddison racked up 18 goals and 12 assists across all competitions last season, proving to be Leicester’s shining light in a tricky campaign.

The playmaker has just two years left on his contract and Newcastle may now believe they can lure him to Tyneside.

Leicester don’t sell easily though; look at the fees they have raked in for Ben Chilwell and Harry Maguire over the years.

£60million for Maddison would put him in a similar bracket and the ball is now in Newcastle’s court as they weigh up an improved offer.

Maddison started in Leicester’s 1-0 win over Sevilla on Sunday and boss Brendan Rodgers spoke about his future after the game.

Speaking to the Leicester Mercury, Rodgers highlighted that Maddison is still a Leicester player and is very much wanted at the King Power Stadium.

Rodgers added that Maddison is a ‘top player’ and that Newcastle’s £40million only covers three quarters of Maddison’s left leg – seemingly suggesting that the Magpies are absolutely nowhere near his personal valuation even if Newcastle are £20million from meeting Leicester’s demands.

“He’s still very much a player here,” said Rodgers. “Naturally the players are sought after because they are talents.”

“You see his performance, you see how happy he is and he’s not a player we want to sell. It’s not for me to put valuations on the players, it’s not my side, but that might just cover three-quarters of his left leg, that price. He’s a top player,” he added.