Two players are close to joining Newcastle as Steve Bruce continues to strengthen his squad before the start of the season next week.
The Chronicle reported that Nice attacker Allan Saint-Maximin had arrived for a medical ahead of a deal worth an initial £16.4m.
Later on Friday, Shields Gazette journalist Miles Starforth tweeted that a medical had been provisionally booked for 25-year-old left-back Jetro Willems from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Starforth added that Willems would be a loan-to-buy deal with talks still ongoing over a fee.
Understand a medical has been provisionally booked for Jetro Willems. Personal terms agreed. Would be a loan with option to buy. Negotiations ongoing on fee. #nufc
— Miles Starforth (@milesstarforth) August 2, 2019
More attacking options for Bruce
Club-record signing Joelinton has already got off the mark for Newcastle, scoring his first goal in black and white against Hibs. He was really impressive throughout in that game and there’s a feeling that the player Bruce described as “raw” could come good at St James’ Park.
After losing Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon, Newcastle needed new attacking options and they’re on the brink of adding Saint-Maximin as well.
22-year-old winger Saint-Maximin scored 11 goals and added 14 assists in 74 games for Nice since his £9m move from Monaco in 2017.
That’s about his career average too, with 0.15 goals and 0.1 assists per 90 minutes [wyscout.com].
He’s not afraid on the ball, with an impressive tally of 12.17 dribbles attempted per 90 minutes, with a 58% success rate.
He’ll be looking to improve his end product but one thing he will add to the Newcastle attack is pace. He’s lightning fast down the flanks, as he proved in the 6-1 defeat his Nice side suffered against Burnley in pre-season.
Nice might have been smashed but Saint-Maximin was a highlight for the French side and he scored their consolation goal in the second-half.