Journalist thinks £50m midfielder is most likely to join Newcastle this summer

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Yesterday James Maddison was destined to move to Tottenham Hotspur which means it’s Newcastle United’s turn today.

The predictable rhythm of the back-and-forth between Tottenham and Newcastle in the race for James Maddison continues after it was claimed that he was Tottenham-bound yesterday, it’s now thought Newcastle will be his most likely destination.

This time it’s Rob Dorsett who has said on Sky Sports News (via Football Daily) that his gut feeling is that the saga will end with the 26-year-old England man as a Newcastle player.

Rob Dorsett believes Newcastle will win the race for Maddison

Discussing Maddison’s £50million price tag, Dorsett said: “Most people, most agents you speak to would tell you that James Maddison is worth more than £50million.

“We know that Spurs and Newcastle are both interested but there may be more as time passes. Spurs offered, what was described to me as a paltry amount for both Maddison and Harvey Barnes but that was a speculative thing, I don’t think they were seriously thinking they were going to get both of them for that.”

Leicester want £60million for Maddison but Dorsett says they’d probably accept around £50million, but given he only has one year left on his contract and Leicester’s fall from the Premier League, Newcastle, and indeed any other interested club, will likely try to bring the price down even lower.

Rob Dorsett also mentions Maddison’s wages which is the key factor in why he thinks Newcastle will emerge victorious, saying: “Leicester pay big salaries. In the rankings, they’re the seventh biggest payers in the Premier League. Or rather they were. These players that we’re talking about are on big money so if they go somewhere else, they’re going to expect the same. So who is going to pay that money? I don’t think Spurs would so it does come back to Newcastle.

“I’ve got this sneaking suspicion that Newcastle will probably come in for him, will probably be prepared to pay the money. He’s somebody in the position that they haven’t got. He improves their squad.

If you want my gut feeling it comes down to Newcastle.”

Tomorrow will likely be Tottenham’s turn to be in front again

I’m sure tomorrow there’ll be another journalist who will insist that he’s London bound and on and on until he’s actually pictured on his new club’s pitch holding up their shirt.

I’ve said it plenty of times already, but I’ll say it again. If Maddison chooses Spurs over Newcastle then he’s making he move for non-footballing reasons. Newcastle are on the rise, they have Champions League football and a stable, manager who is making a big name for himself. Meanwhile Tottenham have … a nice stadium. No European football, no stability, their league grip on the “big six” is slipping.

If it’s about ambition and doing the right thing for his career, then Newcastle is the clear and obvious choice.