Former Newcastle United striker Michael Bridges has urged Toon chiefs to wait until the summer to sign James Maddison. An endless transfer saga involving the Leicester City midfielder has been ongoing since the middle of last year.
ChronicleLive understands two bids were rejected for Maddison, with the highest believed to be around the £45million mark. Attention swiftly turned to record signing Alexander Isak but that has not quashed talk about the Foxes’ talisman.
Maddison has been the standout performer in an otherwise dismal Leicester season and, with less than 18 months on his contract, talk of a potential move is ramping up again. A knee injury forced him out for most of the World Cup and he is yet to play for Brendan Rodgers’ side since the Premier League resumption.
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No football since December 11 is why Bridges would look elsewhere this month and evaluate the Maddison situation in the summer. He told the GegenPod: “If I were going to take a punt, I would rather get somebody in January that's going to be fit and then go for Maddison in the summer because you don't know whether he's going to recover.
“He might have niggles until the end of the season. You might get him at a cheaper price than what you would now, it wouldn't be as inflated.
“I think they've changed their priorities. He was the number one target but, ever since the World Cup, not being involved and coming back injured, I think they're looking for somebody that can come in now and be absolutely flying to give them the kick-start or that extra little surge.”
Bridges also insisted “there is no doubt” Newcastle are in a top-flight title race. As it stands, the Magpies are nine points behind leaders Arsenal, despite playing a game more.
“They are the Premier League contenders now,” he added. “They’re in the title race - there is no doubt about it. Newcastle were 12 points clear when they lost it to Man United years ago under Kevin Keegan. What is it, nine points behind Arsenal? It’s still on.
“Arsenal are obviously leading but this is going to be a cracking end of the season. I'm so looking forward to the title race.”
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