Leicester City have stressed there has been 'no change' in the club's James Maddison stance as the Foxes prepare to face suitors Newcastle United today.
Newcastle, of course, had multiple bids for Maddison turned down last summer when a senior source at the King Power Stadium told ChronicleLive: "The manager made our position clear - he's not for sale." Although you would not expect anyone at Leicester to say different, that same source has now reiterated there has been 'no change here'.
Those three words should not come as a surprise. Maddison may be entering the final 18 months of his contract, but the Leicester talisman would simply be irreplaceable, particularly in the mid-season window.
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In fact, Maddison has only grown in importance since Newcastle tried to sign him after being directly involved in 44% of the Foxes' Premier League goals this season. It is rather telling that Maddison shone even when Brendan Rodgers' side were struggling earlier in the campaign.
You can see why Rodgers wants to give Maddison every chance to prove his fitness when Newcastle visit the King Power in the sides' first Premier League game since the World Cup break. Maddison did not train on Friday because of an ongoing knee issue, but Leicester have refused to rule the 26-year-old out of the Boxing Day clash and Rodgers will instead make a late call.
Even if Maddison does not feature, Howe certainly won't need reminding of the attacking midfielder's qualities. As well as valuing Maddison's ability to unlock a defence - Newcastle need that sort of player with opposition sides now sitting deep at St James' Park - Howe has seen the father-of-one blossom as a character from afar.
Howe is desperate not to 'destroy' the team-first spirit already at the club and it will have not gone unnoticed how Maddison did not sulk despite not playing a single minute at the World Cup. Maddison instead worked even harder in training and supported his international team-mates as Newcastle's England contingent - Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson - witnessed first-hand.
However, before you even take Leicester's hard-line stance into account, this seems an extremely difficult deal to do in January. Howe would love to make such a 'transformational' signing next month, but the Magpies boss warned the club do not have 'vast amounts of money' to spend in the mid-season window because of Financial Fair Play restrictions.
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