Jose Enrique believes Leicester City midfielder James Maddison would “suit” Newcastle United. Toon chiefs failed in two attempts to sign the England international last summer.
However, the 26-year-old will only have a year left on his contract in June, meaning the Foxes should reduce their asking price. Maddison has responded to uncertainty about his future in emphatic fashion by starring as Leicester’s player of the season, scoring nine goals in 16 games.
Reports have continued to link him with a Tyneside move but that has not deterred his performance on the pitch. Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have also been linked with the Leicester sensation.
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Last week, City boss Brendan Rodgers admitted the club had done all it can to keep their asset and the decision is ultimately in Maddison’s hands. Ex-Newcastle defender Enrique has weighed in on the discussion by insisting the midfielder would be a perfect midfield partner for Bruno Guimaraes.
“Newcastle will be a massive step up from Leicester for James Maddison,” the Spaniard told Genting Casino. “It will be a massive step up for Maddison because you can see the liveliness and planning that Newcastle are putting in and you can tell they just want to keep moving forward for a title or top-four bid.
“They are also fighting for a trophy in less than a week or so, so it will definitely be a good move for Maddison and it will be a good signing for Newcastle. I believe he's a player that Newcastle will go for. I will be surprised if they don't.
“He's a player that would really suit Newcastle. He could play as a number eight. Maybe Newcastle will want to sign a number six, but Bruno Guimaraes in that role at the moment is doing a fantastic job. Maddison can slot into that number eight role perfectly.”
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