NEWCASTLE UNITED will make a renewed attempt to sign James Maddison when the transfer window reopens in the summer – but the Magpies are set to face intense competition from Manchester City for the Leicester City midfielder.

Having had an offer for Maddison rejected last summer, the Magpies made another inquiry about the 26-year-old last month, only for the Leicester hierarchy to rule out a sale given their club’s perilous position in the bottom half of the table.

However, Newcastle have not given up on a deal for the England international, who has not signed a new contract at the King Power Stadium despite having entered the final 18 months of his current agreement.

The Magpies failed to recruit a central midfielder last month, with the club’s inability to land any of their targets forcing Eddie Howe to admit his side is “light” in the position, and the head coach is keen to make addressing the issue a key priority for the summer.

Newcastle have shown a willingness to be patient in the past, with both Sven Botman and Anthony Gordon having been signed in the window after an initial attempt to secure their services was rebuffed by their then employers.

Howe will be hoping that a similar scenario unfolds with Maddison, with Newcastle having previously been willing to pay around £40m for the midfielder.

The Magpies are unlikely to have things their own way if Leicester decide to cash in this summer though, with Manchester City also understood to have placed Maddison’s name close to the top of their own summer wish list.

Bernardo Silva is expected to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer, and Manchester City’s recruitment team will attempt to replace the Portuguese midfielder with a similarly proven performer.

Maddison would fit the bill, and it remains to be seen whether Newcastle’s overhaul under their Saudi Arabian owners has elevated them to a position where they are able to compete with City in the transfer market.

Newcastle’s planning for the summer window is already well under way, although Howe admits the club also have to be ready to react to whatever develops over the course of the next four or five months.

“We would have an idea (of summer targets), but that changes,” said Howe. “That can change in the blink of an eye. If you plan things right, you can look a few months ahead, but you always need to be reactive to what happens on a day-to-day basis as well.”

Five members of the current squad are due to become free agents in the summer, and at this stage, there is a good chance that none will be offered new deals.

Goalkeeping duo Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie could well be released at the end of the current campaign, along with Ciaran Clark, who is currently on loan at Sheffield United, Paul Dummett and Matty Longstaff.