Your Newcastle United headlines for Saturday, December 24.
Maddison message
Brendan Rodgers has insisted James Maddison is staying put in the January transfer window. The Leicester City star - who has seven goals and four assists this season - is a player Newcastle desired once top-flight safety was secured. ChronicleLive understands two bids were rejected by the Foxes in August, believed to be in the region of £45million.
With just 18 months remaining on his current deal, Leicester would need to sell their asset in January - providing he does not sign an extension - to optimise the value of any sale. London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are also reportedly chasing the England international.
However, ahead of the Magpies’ Boxing Day trip to the King Power Stadium, Rodgers has ruled out any outgoings next month.
"Yes, absolutely (whether Maddison will be staying),” Rodgers told LeicestershireLive. “The key focus at the moment is getting him fit. Getting him out onto the field again. He’s someone I want to keep here.
“He’s a top player. But I’ve been given no indication that we have to do anything with James in January. My focus is on improving the squad - that’s what I want to do.
“They (Newcastle) have signed players who have improved the dynamic of the team. They’re trying to build something there, they’ll improve and get better. I’m sure they’ll strengthen their squad, and they’ll have the motivation to stay there.
“When you have good players, they’ll always be coveted by other teams - it’s a good sign. That’s okay, I’m confident those players will be here.”
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Burn dispels Agbonlahor claim
Dan Burn has questioned the "perception" of Newcastle and referenced Gabby Agbonlahor's previous declaration that players would prefer to sign for Brentford for "less money". The January signing was one of five mid-season recruits to arrive at the Magpies earlier this year as Eddie Howe's side secured a mid-table finish.
When asked if Newcastle is the most underrated city in the UK, he told NUFC TV: "I've lived all over the country, and I know the perception of the city. People used to talk about players coming up, and they were saying like he'll stay with a London team for less money because it's Newcastle.
"There's not many places in the country where you can be in the city, and in 20 minutes be at the coast, and in another 20 minutes you can be in the countryside. It's cold, but it's not that cold! I love the city, it has changed a lot over the years and caught up to a lot of the other cities."
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Isak position hint
Howe has revealed that Alexander Isak looked 'very good' when he played out wide in training earlier this season as the Newcastle United boss weighs up how to reintegrate the record signing next month.
Isak has not featured for Newcastle since injuring his thigh back in September, but the Sweden international is out running and kicking a ball again. Although Newcastle are conscious of easing Isak back in, after the striker previously suffered a setback, Howe hopes the 23-year-old has a big role to play in a busy January.
"He has done it (played out wide)," Howe told reporters. "He has played both sides. If you asked him, I wouldn't say that he would say it is his best position. But he played there a couple of times in training before the injury and looked very good so it's another string to his bow and certainly something we would not rule out."
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Cup date confirmed
The Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Leicester has been selected for broadcast by Sky Sports. Eddie Howe's side face the Foxes on Boxing Day, before hosting the same opponents three weeks' later for the knockout tie on January 10.
The Magpies returned to competitive action with a hard-fought fourth-round win over Bournemouth on Tuesday night, with an own-goal from Adam Smith settling the contest. Newcastle's reward for this victory was a third successive home tie, and a re-run of the second round clash in 2019 which saw Leicester prevail in a penalty shoot-out.
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