James Maddison looks set to be on the move this summer, and Ian Wright believes Newcastle United is the club for him.
The midfielder suffered relegation from the Premier League on Sunday, with Leicester City failing to avoid the drop on the final day of the season.
The result means that Maddison is all but certain to leave the Foxes now – although a move away from the King Power Stadium felt inevitable regardless. That is because Maddison now only has one year left to run on his Leicester contract.
Therefore, it feels certain that he will be sold ahead of next season, which hands Newcastle an opportunity. Maddison is one of the Magpies’ top targets, with Dan Ashworth planning to make a bid very soon. It has been claimed that Maddison is valued at £50million.
A move to St James’ Park would delight supporters, and it is also a deal that former Arsenal forward Wright would like to happen.
Ian Wright thinks Maddison would thrive at Newcastle
On the latest episode of his podcast Wrighty’s House, Wright addressed the possibility of Maddison signing for Newcastle this summer.
“Maddison – going to a place like Newcastle, with his energy, he goes somewhere else because that is what’s he about. He’s about those fans and entertainment,” he said.
“You look at him with his talent and you can see that when you put him in a team with a front man with great movement. The passes that Maddison will find him with, because he’s so talented.
“I’d love to see him in a team that can transition. You can see someone like him, he can lead the transitional part and he can play out in the right team.
“You can see him at Newcastle, you can see him with a young Harry Kane and Son [Heung-min]. That’s the kind of people he needs to be around.”
Imagine him and Alexander Isak
Wright believes Maddison will excel in a team that thrives in transition and has a forward with excellent movement. And those are two boxes that Newcastle tick.
Eddie Howe’s side have been wonderful on the counterattack this season, moving the ball up the pitch expertly at times. The way we have sprung from defence to attack has been a sight to behold.
Offensively, we have two attackers who could link up brilliantly with Maddison. While Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak are both very different strikers, they both have the movement that would enable Maddison to create chance after chance for them.
It feels like Isak in particular would thrive alongside Maddison given his outrageous speed.
Wright wants to see Maddison in a fun team where he can express himself, and he would certainly be allowed to do that at St James’ Park.
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