James Maddison says his full focus is currently on England matters despite the growing speculation surrounding his future at Leicester City.
Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Leicester's creative spark and a move away from the King Power Stadium looks increasingly likely this summer after their relegation to the Championship, with the Toon in dialogue with Maddison's representatives.
Maddison was handed a rare start by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate on Friday night as England eased to a comfortable 4-0 win in Malta to strengthen their position at the top of their European Championship qualifying group.
The 26-year-old played 70 minutes at the Ta'Qali National Stadium and will likely start again on Monday night when Southgate's side host North Macedonia at a sold-out Old Trafford.
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The playmaker, however, admits being away in the England bubble has been a good way of switching off from the outside noise surrounding his Foxes' future.
"It’s a pause and put the blinkers on and focus on the job at hand," he told Channel 4. "It was a tough end to the season but the positive about the games with England after having a little bit of a break between the last game of the Premier League season and now, it was good to refocus on these games, if it was straight away it would have been more difficult. I am fully focused on tonight and raring to go."
It's understood Leicester want at least £50m for Maddison, with the East Midlands club acutely aware that they must pay Norwich City a 15 per cent sell-on fee and therefore factoring that into the fee they are demanding.
