Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Tottenham are now ‘closing in’ on a £40m deal for Leicester’s James Maddison with personal terms ‘100% agreed’.
Elsewhere, it’s reported that the player will earn in excess of £170,000-per-week at Spurs. If true, this would’ve made him the highest earner on Tyneside and may explain why we decided not to pursue the 26-year-old after long-term interest.
Romano adds that a verbal agreement is in place over a £40m deal – substantially less than the £60m Leicester were thought to be demanding – and reports that a medical will be scheduled soon.
Newcastle were believed to targeting the midfielder after long-term interest from Eddie Howe, with the club launching two unsuccessful bids for the attacking midfielder last summer.
However, either the 26-year-old preferred to move to the London-based club or we were never seriously competing with Spurs. If his wage demands stretched well beyond our current structure, the latter is a very real possibility.
It remains to be seen if we’ll now turn our attentions to RB Leipzig’s Dominik Szoboszlai; the Hungarian star who some consider to be a more exciting alternative as a 22-year-old with Champions League experience and a higher ceiling for growth in this high-energy Eddie Howe side.
As much as I like the lad I don’t think he fits into our system, yes he can play on the right but is wasted there. we don’t play with a AM and I can’t see Howe changing our system for one player.
I also think it’s more down to location than fees and wages why pursue someone that is set on moving somewhere else.
Porkpie(Quote)
No mention of the North/South thing then?
Daveys **** mate(Quote)
By accounts, he was never committed to the Toon. He was intrugued apparently, but the bright lights – and 170k a week – tempted him.
Szoboszlai should’ve been our first target imo. Maybe he was. Given a choice, Spurs can have Maddison as long was we get Szoboszlai. Even if it means selling to make it happen
Bobbybee(Quote)