Newcastle could be set to finally bolster one of the current squad’s key problem areas, and have their eyes set on a top Premier League winger.
Having previously expressed interested in this player, his current club slapped an extortionate £60m price tag, ending any hopes of a signing that window.
But with this club now more willing to sell to raise funds, could Newcastle make a major coup and snatch one of the most promising, dynamic wingers in the league at a great market price?
Toon back in for Chelsea winger?
According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Newcastle remain keen on Chelsea’s Noni Madueke and could be handed a fresh opportunity to sign the winger this summer.
With 30-year-old Jacob Murphy not getting any younger, Madueke joins the likes of Brentord’s Bryan Mbeumo and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo as a Premier League option who could add something different to the right side of our attack.
However, it seems we aren’t the only top flight club keen on the 23-year-old, with talkSPORT revealing that Europe-chasing rivals Aston Villa are also interested.
Madueke was heavily linked with a switch to St James’ Park last summer, with The Athletic, the i’s Mark Douglas and Fabrizio Romano all reporting on our interest before an impressive start to the season saw Enzo Maresca push to keep him.
Despite an astonishing hat trick against Wolves earlier in the campaign, it’s been a frustrating season for Madueke at Chelsea.
Despite 10 goal involvements in 23 league appearances so far, the former PSV winger has been dropped from the squad twice by Enzo Maresca for disciplinary reasons.
And now Chelsea are keen to raise some funds and dramatically refresh their squad in the summer (again?!), which makes it increasingly likely that Madueke won’t be the only Chelsea player on his way out this summer.
Plenty of talent – but how does he fit?
Noni Madueke - Player profile 24/25 | Transfermarkt
The potential signing of Noni Madueke should seem straightforward for Newcastle: a talented, young English winger who fixes a key problem area for Eddie Howe.
But there could be some complications: should Chelsea not budge much lower than their reported £60m valuation of the winger, we’d be wise to look elsewhere, not line the pockets of a ‘big six’ rival.
And with Howe’s notoriously high standards for his players in terms of fitness and work-rate, £60m is a ridiculous fee for a player who may take some time to adapt to the squad.
On the flip side, Howe worked wonders with Anthony Gordon, transforming the young English winger from a mis-firing £40m signing to one of the top left wingers in England.
Madueke could be worth investing in if the price is right, but those disciplinary issues would need to improve if he’s fit into Howe’s hard-working Newcastle United side.