OPINION
Newcastle United are on the hunt for a new number 10 this summer as Rafa Benitez looks to recruit a player who can unlock defences at will.
As reported by the Chronicle, Benitez has been looking throughout Europe for that player, but the Magpies’ search has also been active closer to home, with several young English players on the radar.
One of those is Aston Villa star Jack Grealish, who is set to leave his boyhood club this summer amid financial troubles following their failure to get out of the Championship.
While Grealish is a massively talented young player with huge potential, there is another star on the horizon who would be an even better fit for the Magpies this summer: James Maddison.
The Norwich City playmaker has caught the eye of several top clubs following a fantastic season which saw him score 15 goals, and Newcastle must now enter the race for his signature.
The 21-year-old looks ready for the step up in competition, and the dynamism and creativity that he would bring to the Newcastle attack makes him the perfect candidate for Benitez in his hunt.
On top of his hugely impressive 15 goals, Maddison also laid on 11 assists for teammate in 2017/18, and that kind of all-round productivity is rarely seen in any of the top four leagues in this country.
Newcastle will need both goals and assists next season, with their attack failing to fire on any front this past campaign, and Maddison will bring both in abundance.
It is said that Norwich want £20million for the youngster, and while this would represent a record fee for Newcastle, it would be a deal that would repay that outlay and far more.
The Chronicle mention that Newcastle still have a positive relationship with Norwich following their purchase of Jacob Murphy last summer, and Benitez must exploit that to push to the front of the queue and sign Maddison up in the coming weeks.
