Leicester will face cut-price offers for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes if they get relegated
Leicester will face reduced offers for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes if they cannot avoid relegation ahead of a showdown with high-flying Newcastle.
- James Maddison has attracted interest from both Newcastle and Tottenham
- Leicester will not get big offers for him and Harvey Barnes if they are relegated
- A victory over the Magpies on Monday sees them climb out of the drop zone
Leicester will face reduced price offers for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes this summer if they are relegated to the Championship.
Maddison and Barnes will be sold at the end of the campaign, with Maddison attracting interest from Monday’s opponents Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur. Newcastle inquired about Barnes last summer, who is also on Aston Villa’s list.
As a Premier League club, Leicester would expect a minimum of £50 million for Maddison and a significant sum for Barnes. But given the financial blow they would take if they dropped to the second tier, it is unlikely they will receive offers of this magnitude.
Maddison, who has 10 goals and nine assists this season, has just one year left on his contract and although Barnes (12 goals and one assist) is under contract until 2025, he has shown no sign of agreeing a new contract.
Manager Dean Smith hopes to qualify to land the job permanently, but time is running out for him and his team.
Leicester will receive discount offers for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes if they are relegated
The Foxes will almost be relegated if they lose to Newcastle on Monday night
Dean Smith has struggled to correct the defensive flaws that have dogged Leicester all season
The former Aston Villa boss took over with eight games remaining and has struggled to correct the defensive flaws that have dogged Leicester all season.
“We’re running out of games to make it right,” said Smith. “We are in the last chance room with the game against Newcastle.
“Coming into the last eight games here, if someone had said to me, ‘If you had to win the last game of the season at home, would you take it? I probably would have.
“Hopefully we can get there, but we need to put in a performance and a result against Newcastle.
“I have seen a united group. They won’t all be bosom friends, but you have to be the best teammate.’