Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth is seemingly already eyeing potential moves ahead of the summer transfer window, amid reports that the Magpies could make a renewed approach for Leicester City talisman James Maddison.

What’s the word?

According to The Northern Echo, the Tynesiders are set to make the Englishman a ‘key target’ come the end of the season, albeit with Premier League rivals Manchester City also set to now be in the race for the 26-year-old’s signature.

The report suggests that, having made an offer for the playmaker last summer for a fee of around £50m – as well as another enquiry last month – Ashworth and co are set to rekindle that interest in the summer, with the Magpies willing to be ‘patient’ in their lengthy pursuit of the player.

The article adds that the St James’ Park outfit would be open to forking out around £40m for the former Norwich City man, with the one-cap England international having yet to commit himself to the Foxes with less than 18 months left on his existing deal.

Newcastle’s own De Bruyne

Maddison has emerged as a leading target for Eddie Howe’s side as a result of his standout form at the King Power Stadium of late, having bagged eight goals and four assists in just 15 top-flight appearances this season, on top of providing 30 goal contributions across all fronts last term.

That ability to make a telling impact in the final third from his creative midfield berth has ensured that the Coventry-born sensation shares a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, as per FBref.

That likeness is evidenced by the fact that the latter ranks in the top 1% in Europe among those in his position for assists, shots and non-penalty goals as a marker of his relentless consistency in attack, while Maddison also ranks in the top 1% in those same three metrics.

The two players’ quality on the ball is also further showcased by the fact that De Bruyne – who has three goals and 12 assists in the league this season – ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes received, with the Leicester dynamo only slightly behind as he features in the top 5% in that regard.

Such brilliance in possession is also laid bare by the fact that the Belgian has been lauded as “the best passer the Premier League has ever seen” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, while Maddison has previously been praised for his “world-class” delivery by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.

To merit a mention in the same breath as the 31-year-old is testament to the rise that the eye-catching 5 foot 9 “baller” – as lauded by journalist Luis Miguel Echegaray – has enjoyed under Brendan Rodgers of late, and it is some feat to be compared to someone who Jamie Carragher hailed as “the best player in the Premier League for the past four or five years”.

While Maddison still has some way to go before truly matching the former Chelsea man – who is currently top of the division for big chances created this season (20) – it does bode quite well for the impact that he could make for the Magpies.