‘Disappointed’: Danny Murphy suggests he wanted £40m player to join a team like Newcastle

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Heading into this summer, it looked all but certain that James Maddison was going to sign for Newcastle United.

He was heavily linked with a move last year, but the summer of 2023 felt like it was a perfect storm. Maddison needed to be sold due to his contract situation, while Leicester’s relegation increased the likelihood of him leaving. Combine that with Newcastle qualifying for the Champions League and a deal felt inevitable.

But with the new season on the horizon, Maddison is not a Newcastle player. Instead, he is with Tottenham Hotspur, who brought him in for £40million.

The 26-year-old was apparently keen on a move to St James’ Park, but wages proved to be the issue. In the end, Newcastle walked away and focussed on a deal for Sandro Tonali.

Now the Italian is at St James’ Park, preparing to play in the Champions League alongside the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman.

As for Maddison, he will not be playing any kind of European football during the 2023/24 campaign. That has to be a major disappointment for a player of his calibre. He should be playing in the Champions League, but instead he will be watching at home.

Danny Murphy wanted James Maddison to join a Champions League club

Former player Danny Murphy has been speaking about Maddison joining Tottenham on TalkSPORT, and explained why he is actually ‘disappointed’ that he moved to Spurs.

“I’m actually disappointed for him,” he said.

“I think he’s a Champions League player. He might [become one], but it’s a risk. He’s not now.

“I thought he would get a club that’s in the Champions League.”

Money the issue for Newcastle

Murphy would have been much happier for Maddison if he had joined a club like Newcastle, who were the only Champions League club from England to show any serious interest in him.

It was a straight race between the Magpies and Spurs, and it was the latter who had the financial muscle to get the deal done. It came down to wages, with Newcastle unwilling to pay what Spurs could offer.

While money is not everything, it was clearly a factor in Maddison’s decision. And so it should be, in fairness. At the age of 26, this is probably his last major contract as a professional footballer. And he will have ambitions of playing in the Champions League in a Tottenham shirt.

But this season he will have to watch from home, and you do wonder if there will be any regret when he sees Newcastle United walk out to that famous European anthem.