Tottenham are planning to fight it out with Newcastle United for Leicester City duo James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.
Both James Maddison and Harvey Barnes are set to leave Leicester City following their relegation from the Premier League on Sunday. The English midfielders are expected to command a fee of around £ 40 million, with Maddison’s contract at the King Power Stadium expiring at the end of next season.
Maddison, 26, was one of the rare bright sparks in an otherwise torrid campaign for the Foxes, registering an impressive tally of 10 goals and nine assists in 30 Premier League appearances. Barnes, 25, on the other hand, had his most productive Premier League campaign with 13 goals.
Leicester are wary about losing Maddison and Barnes in the upcoming summer transfer window, although they would hope any type of bidding war would shoot their prices further. Ideally, the Foxes would reportedly prefer quicker sales so they can reinvest the cash raised towards rebuilding their squad to compete in the Championship next term.
Newcastle have an edge over Spurs for Leicester City’s attacking duo
Newcastle United’s transfer summer is expected to be a busy one following an excellent campaign that saw them finish in the top four. With the Magpies set to participate in the Champions League next term, Eddie Howe and the board will know that they have to bolster certain areas of the squad.
Tottenham, in contrast, endured a disappointing 2022/23 campaign as they finished eighth and missed out on European football. The north Londoners have yet to appoint a permanent manager following Antonio Conte’s sacking earlier this year, and with star striker Harry Kane hotly linked with a move away to Manchester United, they are expected to face problems attracting top talents this summer.
Newcastle welcoming Champions League football nights back to St James’ Park after 20 years should give them a massive edge over Spurs for the potential signings of Maddison and Barnes. Maddison and Barnes, full England internationals, are the exact type of transfers Eddie Howe wants to pursue as he looks to make his squad more robust for the 2023/24 campaign.
The Leicester City duo would give Newcastle’s attack speed, creativity and energy whilst adding quality depth to the squad. If the Toon Army can wrap up their signings for a combined fee of £80 million, it would represent a massive steal in today’s age and market.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
