Club identify replacement for their £40m player after rumours Newcastle could sign him

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Newcastle United are keen to sign James Maddison this summer, and it sounds like Leicester City are now preparing for his departure.

A move away from the King Power Stadium feels inevitable. Leicester have been relegated to the Championship, and Maddison is far too good to be playing in the second tier. On top of that, he only has one year left to run on his Foxes contract.

That means they need to cash in, and Newcastle are expected to make a move to sign him.

The 26-year-old has been a Toon target for almost a year now, but Dan Ashworth was priced out of a deal last summer. The belief is that he will cost less in 2023, with a recent report stating that Maddison is now valued at £40million.

Leicester identify Matt O’Riley as James Maddison replacement

With Maddison on course to leave, Leicester will need a replacement. They will not be keen to let him go without having someone else lined up.

Fortunately, a new report has suggested that they have found the player they want to take the England international’s place in the side.

According to TEAMtalk, Leicester are interested in signing Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley. They reportedly see him as the man to replace Maddison.

The report adds that Celtic are aware they could lose O’Riley if a decent offer comes in, and that could become a reality if Leicester’s bank balance is boosted by a big money departure for Maddison.

Interestingly, O’Riley is a player who has been linked with signing for Newcastle in the past 12 months. Now he could be the one who clears the way for Eddie Howe to bring in one of his top summer targets.

Maddison looks like a perfect fit for this Newcastle United team, and a lot of supporters are keen to see him join. That could become more likely if Leicester can sort out a replacement.

In O’Riley, it looks like they have found their man.