Sources: Newcastle risk losing Eddie Howe’s ultimate target to Tottenham with Magpies chiefs stunned by £60m demand

Newcastle United are baulking at Leicester City’s asking price for James Maddison and this could open the door for Tottenham to sign him first, TEAMtalk understands.
Maddison has long been Eddie Howe’s primary transfer target at St James’ Park. Indeed, Newcastle submitted two bids for the attacking midfielder last summer, which came in at £40million and then £50m. However, both offers were rejected by Leicester as they did not meet their demands.
But two factors have given Newcastle renewed confidence about signing Maddison. The first is Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League, which will force them to sell some of their top players. Secondly, Maddison will soon enter the final 12 months of his contract, and he is unlikely to agree an extension following relegation.
Newcastle and Tottenham are both keen to bring the two-cap England international back to the top flight and have begun discussions with Leicester.
Monday’s Transfer Gossip revealed how new Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has put Maddison on a three-man wish list. His other targets are thought to be Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi, whom he worked with at Celtic.
Now, TEAMtalk has been told Leicester value Maddison at well over £50m, despite them now being a Championship side. Indeed, they would ideally like to receive £60m for him.
In contrast, Newcastle value the former Norwich City man at the £40m mark. And sources close to the Magpies insist they will not go above £50m.
Tottenham could steal Newcastle target from Howe
If Newcastle do not agree to Leicester’s demands then it will open up the way for Tottenham to take Maddison to North London.
Amid all the speculation surrounding his future, Maddison posted on Instagram at the start of June to reveal how he is ‘absolutely devastated’ at Leicester failing to stay in the Prem. He urged all of the Leicester players to ‘stick together’, although it does not look like he will be playing at the King Power next term.