Newcastle have identified Leicester City’s James Maddison as the top target for January according to The Northern Echo. The 25-year-old will have just 18 months left on his contract when the winter window opens.
The Magpies tried to land the playmaker over the summer but had two bids rejected. The second bid was reportedly around £40m, though it is understood to have been heavily structured.
Leicester have limped out of the gate to start the new campaign with just 1 point. They sit at the bottom of the league table having lost the last five on the trot. Maddison has contributed 2 goals and 1 assist in his five league appearances.
Eddie Howe was hopeful of adding another midfielder with Jonjo Shelvey sidelined until November with a hamstring injury. Maddison’s teammate Youri Tielemans, Ajax’s Edson Alvarez, and Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher were also on the shortlist.
Ultimately, those efforts came up short and the injury to Bruno Guimaraes has limited Howe’s options in recent weeks. Though, Elliot Anderson has been given an opportunity over that span and has not disappointed.
Premier League pundit and former England striker Ian Wright recently claimed that Maddison wanted the move to Newcastle. If true, he remained professional and didn’t try to force the situation like his teammate Wesley Fofana, who joined Chelsea late in the window.
If Leicester’s situation doesn’t improve soon, manager Brendan Rodgers’ job could be in jeopardy. Incidentally, Chelsea have fired Thomas Tuchel this morning after a 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.
Leicester is facing an exodus with a number of stars on contracts that expire over the next two seasons. Tielemans is in the final year of his deal and Leicester were open to allowing him to leave for £25m in the summer.
Another potential summer target to watch this winter is Leeds’ Jack Harrison. Newcastle had bids in the £20m range rejected for the 25-year-old, who has struggled in recent weeks.
Harrison will have just 18 months left on his contract in January and was pulled at halftime in Leeds’ 5-2 loss at Brentford over the weekend. Like Maddison, Harrison reportedly was keen on joining Newcastle this summer.

204 comments so far
jimiley
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:22 PM
Comment #41Yep. It’s dementia kicking in
THENORTHEASTENDER
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:25 PM
Comment #42Pochettino- Brighton ????
Feel sorry for Brighton though… they’ve done great with Potter and the likes of Chelsea come knocking and he is off…. cant blame him really… he will earn 10x the salary he gets at Brighton in the 2 years he will manage them before the sack .
I’m glad our owners are doing things how they are… Chelsea spending 200mil plus to sack the manager barely a week after the window shuts is a disgrace imo
THENORTHEASTENDER
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:28 PM
Comment #43Taco –
Don’t get me wrong…. id take Europe all day long and believe the owners would have to have a blinding window next August so we would cope… I agree it would 8ncrease revenue etc… just think on where we are at now it may be too much…but saying that… we have the Jan window aswel…who knows what this season will bring… but I’d be more then happy with 7-9th , anything less would be a tad underwhelming but not the end of the world
WLtoon
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:28 PM
Comment #44https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GlkNZtasTM
Chelsea fans reaction
jimiley
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:28 PM
Comment #45Chelsea have given Tuchel 200 million last few weeks and sack him. A proven winner. They must have money to burn. I think it’s hilarious. They lost last night but were all over Zagreb. It just needed a few tweaks to put things right. They have a hell of squad. New players bedding in.
Virtually every club in world would want him. They have dropped a real bollick. More money than dense
jimiley
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:30 PM
Comment #46Sense but they are dense as well
Adamn_92
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:31 PM
Comment #47Taco
Agree with everything you’re saying. But, if it came at the expense of not doing great in the league then it is better to qualify for Europe this season, or improve the squad in January and next summer and then qualify next season instead?
I appreciate all the benefits you mention, but feel we would struggle domestically or in Europe itself. It could be a pretty average season in terms of domestic finish and Europe progress. So i think it makes more sense to keep upgrading the squad and then we can be in a position to not sacrifice league position and give Europe a really good go too.
Of course we should always aim to finish as high as we can so i’m definitely not going to complain if we did qualify for Europe this season. Just feel it would be too soon and could be detrimental to some extent how we do in competitions next season.
THENORTHEASTENDER
Agree with all of that mate and when you word 3 seasons as ‘6 windows’ instead, then it’s clearer to see how much we could vastly improve in the squad and depth quality in that timeframe.
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:35 PM
Comment #48Tuchel was my 1st choice as a manager for us pre Howe but it looks like we dodged a bullet there.
snowdone
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:35 PM
Comment #49I’ve just had an interesting bike ride discussion with my ex premier league ref/linesman friend. He rates Howard Webb very highly despite his Old Trafford connections. He will sort it out. The problem is the VAR adjudicators. They are jumping in too often to overturn decisions. The refs will be encouraged to use their judgement more. He liked my suggestion that timekeeping should be taken out of the ref’s hands. We are paying over £60 to watch 60 mins of actual football. It will cut out time-wasting .We want to see more football.
My friend was appalled at the decision making at the weekend and said Lee Mason would have been out under refs like Keith Hackett.
Romford mag
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:36 PM
Comment #50£200mill spent in the two transfer windows of 2022 !
Plus whatever else on the stadium and training ground !
Unheard of under the parasite that was here before!
It’ll take time , but the owners and EH are taking us to the top!
HWTL
check the toastie
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:36 PM
Comment #51Weird one with Tuchel.
Aubamayang signs as he’s Tuchel’s buddy. Week later sack Tuchel.
Think he would have had then clicking shortly. However good for us some compo is cracking up
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:38 PM
Comment #52Don’t want us qualifying for Europe next season, seriously.
Sooner the better for me, especially as I have waited so long for us to be back in these competitions and I aint getting any younger.
hibbit
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:39 PM
Comment #53jimiley
Brighton: Graham Potter – 2025
Potter initially signed for four years up to 2023 when he was appointed by Brighton in 2019, but the Seagulls extended his deal after just six months, now tied down until the summer of 2025.
Tuchel has recently been quoted on sky as saying he no imput to any of this seasons player purchases
hibbit
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:39 PM
Comment #54” he had no “
Adamn_92
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:42 PM
Comment #55EGB
I didn’t say I didn’t want us to. I said I feel it could impact our league position or progress in the European competition, or both, next year if we did qualify as we won’t have the quality in depth yet to give them both a good crack effectively.
I did say in one of my last posts that I certainly wouldn’t complain if we qualified this season. I would love it and enjoy being back in Europe but just feel it could also be a case of too soon to be prepared adequately for.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:44 PM
Comment #56jimiley – doesn’t look like Tuchel was actually given money to spend, not if he wasn’t involved in the decisions. The club signed the players and Tuchel was just the coach it seems like.
A very good coach but obviously not for Chelsea…
WLtoon
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:49 PM
Comment #57https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjl0MxB2bP0
Just another example of how the club have opened up to the fans, this would never happen under the previous lot, in fact the club shop was becoming a no go area under Jabba
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:54 PM
Comment #58WLToon – that’s great. A special moment for those fans.
A Geordie Mongrel
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:55 PM
Comment #59Afternoon all, just had a delightful week away with dodgy to no signal, it was bliss. I see the latest iteration of Kets has been handed his cards and Jail, Sparky and Mund are back, all good. Sparky, glad your health is improving, Jail, I hope all is well at home and Mund, congratulations on your new job. There seems to have been a rash of alts, personally I couldn’t be bothered. It’s too difficult to consistently change your writing style. However to all the genuinely new bloggers, welcome one and all.
Right, took me several days but all caught up so here are some random thoughts.
The only stupid question is the one not asked.
Re Dubs, disappointed he didn’t fight for his place but understand him wanting to build bridges with Man U fans as he seems to have burnt them here.
Re seemingly negative bloggers you’ve got to remember 14 years of hurt takes some getting over. The negativity is a learned behaviour which I am sure Eddie and the team will cure in time. All opinions are valid for each individual, we should respect that. Wums and spammers are a different kettle of fish, they are agenda driven.
I think it’s been a good window for us. A quality keeper, defender and striker. Stepping stones folks, onwards and upwards.
I did manage to listen to the match on Wednesday and watched the highlights when I got back. So unlucky to lose that and two dodgy VAR decisions in consecutive games was painful to watch. I would love to be a fly on the wall at the meeting between PL and PGMOL.
Finally WorB, Positively juice for £10 a bottle? No thanks, I make my own. 100% organic anarl. 😆
All my own opinion, of course. 🙂
CLINT FLICK
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:58 PM
Comment #60Frank is too highly strung for the cfc owners, like tuchel, no dice.
Rodgers is a busted flush, been sussed.
Lost the lockeroom. It’s only gonna get worse, he’d be better off jumping, to save what’s left of his ‘rep’.
Potter has either wasted a few years building an unfashionable club, or just another chancer waiting for a lucrative offer at a ‘so called’ big club.
A Geordie Mongrel
Sep 7, 2022 at 1:59 PM
Comment #61Yikes, that was a bit War and Peace. Apologies.
Toon fans bad
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:07 PM
Comment #62Pretty lazy by the Echo that article to be honest.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:08 PM
Comment #63Send pochettino a horse!
Gallopy gallopy gallopy gallopy gallopy.
😀
Pottsclock
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:11 PM
Comment #64Actually, it’s not a given that Potter will go to Chelsea unless his role is defined in such a way as to avoid the issues that Tuchel had. It’s never sensible or reasonable to have a recruitment function that does not involve the manager.
The real is here is that Todd Boehly does not know how to run a football club. Tony Bloom at Brighton does.
Dubai Micky
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:14 PM
Comment #65Chelsea would face a bill of about £10million to buy Potter out of his Brighton contract, on top of having to pay Tuchel compensation on a contract that was not due to expire until 2024.
The Taco Taker
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:16 PM
Comment #66Apparently it is £20M to get Potter out of Brighton.
WLtoon
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:18 PM
Comment #67Pocket change to Chelsea, they will pay it.
I hope potter stays put tbh.
Adamn_92
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:19 PM
Comment #68£20m to get Potter?
Chelsea will probably pay about £60m then going by their transfer window.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:20 PM
Comment #69Thank you AGM, toto bien en mi casa.
EGB,
My personal thoughts are that I think one of the Euro or Conf league is a step too far so quickly, if we get there via a cup or league then so be it, we have to deal with it but certainly not worth spending an extra £20M on Maddison just to achieve it now, now now. We’ve hired experts in their field to guide us through the process. I’m all for just letting them get on with it.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:26 PM
Comment #70jimiley,
From what I gather, the general consensus is that most fans are going to be happy with around 8th place. You seem to want more, do we have to suffer your whining at every thing the club does because nothing seems good enough for you. If we win the league you would most likely complain we didn’t score enough goals or let too many in. I’m really struggling to figure out what joy you are getting from being a football fan?
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:29 PM
Comment #71I hope Potter stays put too. But I think if Chelsea have got anywhere near a decent project to offer him then he’ll take it. I wonder if he’d be happy with just a coach role though…problem with that is you can fail at your job because other people don’t do theirs.
Toon fans bad
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:32 PM
Comment #72Brighton won’t stand in Potter’s way and he should go to Chelsea if asked. Brighton just need to be very careful who they get in or they’ll drop like a stone with the wrong choice I reckon.
Potter himself would be daft not to grasp the opportunity and test himself at the highest level. Just natural progression for him really as his ability has got him to this point.
No doubt Brighton will be compensated handsomely. Very interested to see how he would get on there. Totally didn’t see the Tuchel sacking coming, although I wasn’t aware he wasn’t buying the players. He wanted PEA in surely. Strange!
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:33 PM
Comment #73Did that article DMicky posted not say he was more hands on than ever with transfers and didn’t like it? Did I misread that?
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:35 PM
Comment #74Isn’t it weird how a manager good enough to win a CL can unravel so quickly.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:36 PM
Comment #75TDSarf,
I think that’s what he was/is at Brighton with Ashworth and now the understudy doing the player recruitment.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:37 PM
Comment #76Raj
Clash of personalities?
Different owners?
They didn’t hire him?
CLINT FLICK
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:38 PM
Comment #77Remember, we let a mastermind go, when new owners came in!
😀
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:40 PM
Comment #78CF,
Not soon enough imo but don’t want to open that debate again 😮
A Geordie Mongrel
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:40 PM
Comment #79I hope Potter stays too. I like what he’s doing and is a proper time served manager. At Brighton he will get time, that’s not the case at Chelsea. Too big a risk I think.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 7, 2022 at 2:45 PM
Comment #80Raj – but I wonder how involved he wants to be. I mean, Howe is not heavily involved in recruitment but we’ve been told that he’s part of a committee so does have a say on who is brought in. I do find it odd when people are happy to just be a coach and deal with players that others decide to bring in. I’d hate it if other people hired staff and then told me they were in my team without be being involved in their recruitment.