Newcastle United have Premier League playmaker James Maddison as their ‘main target’ this year, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Long-standing interest

The Magpies saw a £50m offer for the Leicester City midfielder rejected last summer as a result of the bid falling short of the Foxes’ £60m valuation, but it sounds like they haven’t given up the chase.

Eddie Howe recently admitted that getting any big-money deals over the line in the winter market will prove difficult, but reports in recent months have suggested that the Tynesiders still retain a very strong interest in the 26-year-old.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones revealed that Newcastle consider Maddison to be their priority target, alongside Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram, with whom the St James' Park club have also been heavily linked.

The journalist said: “The other main target would still be Maddison, from everything I’m hearing. Again, there are all sorts of hurdles to get over with that one, and there will be lots of work to do.”

[web_stories_embed url="https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-7/" title="Newcastle news!" poster="" width="360" height="600" align="none"]

The Verdict: Splash the cash

PIF won’t want to go overboard with significant payments in January, but it’s important that they cash out to secure Maddison’s services given the excellent first half of the season that he’s had.

The England international has so far clocked up seven goals and four assists in 13 top-flight appearances this term and currently ranks in the 99th percentile for total shots among positional peers in Europe's top five leagues over the past year, as per FBRef.

The Magpies are flying high in third place following an outstanding run of form, and the potential arrival of Maddison would surely only increase their chances of nailing down a place in the Champions League for next season.