Newcastle United might be making ready to make use of this upcoming break from aggressive motion to think about any potential strikes within the January window, with rumours abound that the Magpies might be trying to strengthen as soon as the market re-opens.
The identify that is still on everyone’s lips at current is that of James Maddison, with the 25-year-old – who was just lately named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup – having been a goal over the summer season.
The suggestion on the time was that the northeast aspect had seen a £50m supply rejected by Leicester Metropolis for the playmaker, with the Midlands outfit demanding upwards of £60m in the event that they have been to half methods with their prized asset.
Regardless of the deal in the end failing to come back to fruition, the most recent suggestion is that the St James’ Park outfit might look to make one other method within the New Yr, with the previous Norwich Metropolis man having simply over 18 months left on his present deal on the King Energy Stadium.
There’s, nonetheless, a possible preferrred various to Maddison within the type of his Three Lions colleague, Mason Mount, with Eddie Howe and co probably in a position to capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding the 23-year-old’s contract at Chelsea.
Studies this week prompt that talks over an extension for the previous Derby County loanee have hit one thing of a stalemate, with the £79m-rated ace additionally having simply over a yr and a half left on his present deal.
There had been experiences previous to the summer season window linking the Portsmouth-born sensation with an exit, with Newcastle named as one potential suitor on account of Howe’s admiration for the participant, having seemingly tried to signal the teenager throughout his time in cost at Bournemouth.
Whereas the 32-cap gem is at the moment a part of a struggling Blues aspect, he does boast a strong haul of eight objective involvements in 21 video games in all competitions, together with 4 assists in simply six Champions League group video games.
A European champion throughout his time at Stamford Bridge, Mount has been acting on a constant foundation on the elite stage over the previous few years, having been first handed a shot within the first-team in west London by Frank Lampard again in 2019.
Since then, the dynamic ace – who has been dubbed a “mad participant” by pundit Rio Ferdinand – has netted 32 targets and offered 37 assists in 181 video games throughout all fronts, with that document considerably much like Maddison (52 targets and 36 assists in 185 video games at Leicester), albeit with the latter man barely extra prolific in entrance of objective.
The 2 males – who can each function in an attacking midfield position or on the flanks – notably share a variety of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref, with Mount averaging 0.32 assists per recreation, whereas his compatriot averages simply barely extra at 0.38.
The pair have additionally showcased a defensive functionality with Maddison rating within the high 19% for tackles made amongst these in his place in Europe, whereas the Chelsea starlet ranks within the high 12% in that metric, as an indication of his willingness to place within the laborious yards in addition to impression play offensively.
As this illustrates, the similarity between the 2 might make sure that Mount is a viable various for Newcastle to that of the Foxes’ talisman, with Howe and co probably in a position to attempt to tempt both of the 2 contract rebels into making a change.
