Newcastle United have reportedly seen an improved bid for playmaker James Maddison rejected by Leicester City.
The Magpies saw an opening offer of £40m swiftly rejected for the 25-year-old over the weekend, with the Foxes valuing the Englishman closer to £60m.
Sky Sports News reports that Newcastle have now made a second bid worth just over £40m for Maddison, and this offer has also been turned down by Leicester as it still falls short of their asking price.
Maddison, who has two years remaining on his contract at the King Power Stadium, joined Leicester from Norwich City in the summer of 2018 for around £24m, and has since developed into a star player under Brendan Rodgers.
The playmaker enjoyed an impressive 2021-22 campaign in front of goal, scoring 18 times and registering 12 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions.
Should Maddison move to St James' Park, he would become Eddie Howe's fourth signing of the summer window and their first attack-minded addition, after the arrivals of goalkeeper Nick Pope and defenders Matt Targett and Sven Botman.
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Staying in the Premier League, Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi would reportedly be open to joining Frank Lampard at Everton this summer.
The 28-year-old has spent the last three-and-a-half years away from Stamford Bridge on loan with four different European clubs, including Turkish giants Besiktas last season.
Batshuayi has entered the final 12 months of his Chelsea contract and is expected to leave the club this summer, as he is deemed surplus to requirements by Thomas Tuchel.
According to talkSPORT, Lampard has identified the Belgium international as a potential replacement for Richarlison, who joined Tottenham Hotspur for around £60m earlier this summer.
Everton are also understood to be interested in Chelsea midfield duo Billy Gilmour and Ross Barkley, the latter of whom began his professional career at Goodison Park and spent eight years as a Toffee in the senior side.
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Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez is reportedly edging closer to joining Ligue 1 side Marseille on free transfer.
It was confirmed on Monday that the 33-year-old has terminated his contract at Inter Milan, ending his three-year association with the Serie A giants.
The Sun claims that the Chile international is set to be paid around £3.77m in compensation by Inter, as his deal was initially due to expire in 2023.
The report adds that Sanchez – who has previously been linked with Benfica – has agreed to leave Inter in order to facilitate a move to Marseille, who are believed to have been in talks with the forward for several weeks.
The former Arsenal and Manchester United man recorded 20 goals and 23 assists in 108 appearances for Inter across all competitions, and won the Serie A title in the 2020-21 campaign.
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Elsewhere in Serie A, Roma striker Tammy Abraham has ruled out a potential return to the Premier League and insists that he is settled in Italy.
The 24-year-old joined the Giallorossi on a permanent deal last summer from Chelsea, and enjoyed a successful 2021-22 campaign, scoring 27 goals in 53 games and winning the inaugural Europa Conference League.
Abraham has since been linked with a possible return to England, with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United believed to be keeping tabs on the striker, but he has confirmed that he has no intention to leave Roma this summer.
Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Abraham said: "No, the first day I arrived at Roma I felt at home. I'm in no hurry to get back to the Premier League because I can express my way of playing here.
"In Italy I feel happy in every respect. Believe me, I am not thinking of the future, but only about the present.
"I focus exclusively on the season that is about to begin, because I want it to be even more rewarding than the first I experienced in Italy."
Abraham, who will be hoping to break into Gareth Southgate's England squad for the 2022 World Cup, still has four years remaining on his contract at the Stadio Olimpico.
Oliver Thomas
