Leicester make £20m bid for C’ship star wanted by Everton

Oli Fisher

Leicester have made an offer of around £20million for Norwich midfielder James Maddison, a report claims.

The Foxes are leading the chase for the 21-year-old who is keen to move to the King Power Stadium, Press Association Sport understands.

Southampton and Everton are also interested in the England Under-21 star, who scored 15 goals for the Sky Bet Championship club last season and is one of the most highly rated players outside the Premier League.

Norwich have been looking for over £20million for Maddison as the club continues to balance the books having failed to return to the top flight after relegation in 2016.

Leicester do hold an interest in Jack Grealish but Maddison has been their first choice and the Aston Villa star is not eager to join them.

The Foxes are preparing to lose Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City and signing Maddison would be part of a squad revamp at the King Power Stadium.

They are backing boss Claude Puel despite doubts over his future at the end of last season after the club missed out on European football.

Leicester finished ninth in the Premier League and are expected to start phasing out some of their title winners from 2016.

Robert Huth is leaving on a free transfer, while Wes Morgan will be 35 years old at the end of next season and Christian Fuchs will head to America where his family is based in 2019.

Maddison’s expected exit would be a record sale for the Canaries who have already sold Josh Murphy to Cardiff for £11million this month.

Marley Watkins joined Bristol City for a fee rising to £1million while they are still keen to get Matt Jarvis, Michael McGovern, Steven Naismith and Russell Martin off the wage bill.