James Maddison may be in the form of his life but the Leicester City star admitted it felt 'bittersweet' when his side were struggling - which is just the sort of team-first mentality Eddie Howe wants to bring to Newcastle United.
Newcastle had two bids turned down for the England international last summer and a senior source at Leicester previously stressed to ChronicleLive that the 'manager made our position clear - he's not for sale'. It remains to be seen if Newcastle test that stance again in 2023 as Maddison approaches the final year-and-a-half of his contract.
It is easy to see why Newcastle were interested. Maddison has been directly involved in 44% of Leicester's Premier League goals this season - helping to steer his side away from danger after the Foxes' torrid start - and the 25-year-old has deservedly earned a call-up to the World Cup. When asked if Maddison's value had gone up, last week, a smiling Howe said he had 'no idea' after Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers previously quipped £40m would only cover 'three-quarters of his left leg'.
READ MORE: Kieran Trippier sends message to Steve Bruce after not wanting to 'disrespect' ex-Newcastle boss
Maddison certainly ticks a lot of boxes for Newcastle on and off the field. Howe previously reiterated he was desperate not to 'destroy' the harmony in the dressing room with the wrong sort of characters and the Newcastle boss went as far as to say the 'biggest danger' the Magpies face is bringing in someone who does not have a 'team ethic'. Maddison does not fall into that category and the attacking midfielder has already as good as passed that character test as his latest comments prove.
"Over the last 18 months, I'm playing the best I've ever played," he told Soccer AM.
"My confidence has been so high. It's bittersweet because when you're in that form and you're scoring a lot, assisting a lot and contributing, you want to be the one winning it for your team. You want your goals to be winners for the team and for the morale around the place.
"At the start of the season, I was getting on the score sheet a lot and we were on the losing side so it's a much better, warmer feeling scoring and assisting when you're on the winning side."
Think you can predict the World Cup Golden Boot Winner? If so you could WIN £150 in Nike vouchers! Enter below. If the form is not working CLICK HERE
READ NEXT
Newcastle transfer hint after Steve Nickson talks as Canada hero opens up
Newcastle have new transfer advantage after €100m-rated star reveals what's 'very important'
Newcastle wonderkid saves millions and it 'won't be long until everyone realises' how good he is
Newcastle have potential stadium and FFP solution but talks planned first
Kieran Trippier shuts down Simon Jordan as Newcastle star reveals money truth and Atletico plea
