Newcastle had two bids rejected for the Leicester City midfielder in the summer
There is a name on the lips of everyone associated with Newcastle United as the club heads towards its third transfer window under their Saudi Arabian owners. That name is James Maddison.
Given his superb form for Leicester and the clamour for him to make a late break into England’s World Cup squad, he is probably the player supporters are most excited about signing. If they can. At the moment, that is far from certain.
Signing Maddison would be a huge statement from Newcastle as the rising power in English football. They have already rattled the cage of the Big Six, are sitting third in the Premier League and are on an upward trajectory under their brilliant manager Eddie Howe.
This is not a make or break deal, it is not going to define their season, but Newcastle’s approach to signing Maddison in January will reveal much about where the project that has begun so well on Tyneside stands – and more pertinently where it is heading.