Newcastle United has set their sights on James Maddison for their upcoming summer transfer window. However, they may face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur, who are also reportedly interested in the Leicester City midfielder. Former footballer Jermaine Jenas, who has played for both Newcastle and Spurs, has weighed in on the matter, adding his thoughts to the situation.
Jenas left Newcastle under a cloud, famously referring to the city as a “goldfish bowl” in his parting shot. He has since spoken to FourFourTwo magazine about the situation, suggesting that Spurs should sign Maddison ahead of Newcastle.
“I’m totally with the standpoint of ‘What’s the point in building this big stadium and having all this lovely stuff if you’re not going to invest properly and challenge for a league title?’ I think the frustration from the fans is that they seem to just half-heart everything.
“It’s like, are they ever going to get to a window, like this summer and go, ‘You know what? We need James Maddison: go and get him.”
Jenas points out that Tottenham has been reluctant to spend in the past, which has frustrated the Spurs’ fanbase. He hopes that this trend will continue this summer, leaving the door wide open for Newcastle to swoop in and sign Maddison before Tottenham can make their move.
While Jenas stops short of suggesting that Spurs should challenge Newcastle for Maddison, his comments seem to hint that he believes that Maddison would be a valuable addition to Tottenham’s squad. However, his choice of words and the timing of his comments could be interpreted as a slight dig at Newcastle.
Maddison has been in impressive form for Leicester City this season, scoring 11 goals and providing 10 assists in all competitions. His performances have caught the attention of several Premier League clubs, and he could be in for a big-money move this summer.
Newcastle United’s interest in Maddison comes as no surprise. The Magpies have struggled in the Premier League this season and are in desperate need of new signings to strengthen their squad. Maddison’s creative flair and eye for goal would be a significant boost to their midfield.
Whether Newcastle can beat Tottenham to Maddison’s signature remains to be seen. However, with Spurs’ recent reluctance to spend big in the transfer market, the Magpies could have a chance to bring the midfielder to St. James’ Park.