Transfer expert Dean Jones says that Leicester City midfielder James Maddison is the player that Newcastle United would 'love most' to sign this summer.

The Lowdown: Retained interest

It has been reported that Newcastle have retained their interest in signing Maddison ahead of this summer's transfer window.

They have already had an offer of around £40m rejected by Leicester for him, and could look to go in for him again.

The Latest: Newcastle would love Maddison the most

Writing in his latest column for GiveMeSport, Jones says that Maddison is the player that these St. James' Park outfit would love most to sign of all their targets this summer.

His future at the Foxes is 'uncertain' as he has begun talks over potentially signing a new contract, and the Tynesiders seemingly want to pounce on that uncertainty.

Maddison is one of 'five' new signings that they could make, but will rely on some 'big hitters' in the current squad being moved on, with Allan Saint-Maximin a 'real possibility' to leave.

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The Verdict: No-brainer

After letting Jonjo Shelvey go to Nottingham Forest in the January transfer window, and with fellow midfielders Matt Ritchie and Matty Longstaff out of contract in the summer, signing Maddison as a new midfielder is a no-brainer for the Magpies.

Hailed as an ‘absolutely outstanding‘ player by his manager Brendan Rodgers, the Englishman has been a shining light in a struggling Leicester side in the Premier League, with nine goals and five assists so far this season.

Not only is he effective in front of goal, but he also has the capability of picking out the right pass from deeper in midfield, with journalist Raj Chohan lauding his vision as 'unbelievable'.

Nonetheless, Madison would take Newcastle's midfield to a different level alongside the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.