Newcastle United transfer target James Maddison is expected to move a step closer to leaving Leicester City this week - but the Foxes are expected to drive a hard bargain despite the 26-year-old having just a year left on his current deal.
The Magpies have continuously tracked developments surrounding the England international since a huge £50million offer was submitted last summer. Back then the deal fell through when talks with his representatives on personal terms coincided with Newcastle switching attentions elsewhere in the remainder of the summer window.
Maddison is not against a move to United but has left discussions with his agency CAA Base in the early weeks of summer as he rests and recuperates and comes to terms with the relegation of the club he will always feel indebted to in Leicester. There is firm interest from Tottenham Hotspur too with Ange Postecoglou already notifying Daniel Levy the ex-Norwich player is on his wish list.
Leicester have already cleared the decks at the King Power Stadium with the release of Youri Tielemans, Çaglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey, Nampalys Mendy, Ryan Bertrand, Ayoze Perez and Tete who were not offered new terms following the drop to the Championship on the final day of the season.
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And this week will see the start of Leicester dealing with contracted stars that they are resigned to losing due to their relegation last term. Maddison is at the top of that list alongside another long-term Newcastle target Harvey Barnes. The Foxes will first establish who is willing to pay what is deemed the asking price of over £50million.
One of the factors to come into Maddison's price tag is the 15 per cent sell-on clause to his old club Norwich. Although, Newcastle felt they offered an extremely fair price last year.
Maddison must then mull over whether Spurs, where he will be looked at as a huge part of Postecoglou's reboot in the capital, or Newcastle, the other front-runner, will win the race for his signature. Leicester want the situation dealt with sooner rather than later as they look to assemble a team who can challenge for promotion back to the top flight.
Maddison knows he will have familiar faces to welcome him at St James' Park in the shape of England buddies Nick Pope, Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier. And there is the small matter of Champions League football for the attacking midfield star to contemplate.
Leicester remain managerless with director of football Jon Rudkin in charge of the sale process for the relegated Foxes. His counterpart Dan Ashworth was at one of the final games of Leicester's season when they were beaten by Liverpool at the King Power.
United won't be pushed into a bidding war or be pushed over their valuation for Maddison on both a transfer fee and personal terms. Eddie Howe has a flexible list of targets and is hoping to make a breakthrough before the first day of pre-season training in early July.
Newcastle also have agents of other clients pushing to offer the Magpies alternatives to Maddison. Leicester are keen for the situation to be resolved sooner rather than later.
