'Fighting for their future': £60m Newcastle target is playing for his place despite excellent start to season

Newcastle United's transfer priorities haven't changed since the summer after the club failed to secure a new right-sided centre-back and right-winger.

Many names were mentioned throughout the transfer window but other than the long drawn-out saga with Marc Guehi and Crystal Palace, nothing ever really looked close, especially on the right winger front.

There was a name that was bandied around quite often for the winger spot but nothing ever came of it thanks to a £60 million price tag.

Newcastle were sniffing around Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and were hoping to scoop up the player for a fee similar to what Chelsea had paid for him mere months earlier.

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Noni Madueke has made an excellent start to the season

The newly-capped England international signed for Chelsea from PSV for around £29 million, and Newcastle were hoping to pick him up for a similar fee given the abundance of options Chelsea had in that department.

When the Blues stuck a £60 million price tag on the 22-year-old the deal became impossible and Newcastle walked away.

Madueke went on to impress new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca in training and has since made a barnstorming start to the season scoring three goals in four appearances.

Noni Madueke has been told he's fighting for his future at Chelsea

However, despite this impressive start, journalist Graeme Bailey has told Geordie Boot Boys that Madueke is one of three Chelsea players who have been told they are playing for their Chelsea futures.

“Madueke, [Christopher] Nkunku and {Mykhailo] Mudryk have all been told they’re fighting for their future at Chelsea, which is not a massive surprise considering the number of attackers they’ve got.

“From what I am told, they’ve all reacted quite well and realise they are fighting for their futures. What Chelsea have been impressed by is that none of them have spat their dummies out. Instead, they’ve reacted well.

“Madueke looks as if he is in the prominent role right now, but we know that can change very quickly with Chelsea.”

We're sure Newcastle will be keeping a keen eye on Madueke and how his position in the team changes as the season goes on before weighing up whether or not to make another move for him.