Aaron Stokes has claimed on the Everything is Black and White podcast that he doesn’t expect Newcastle United to make a move for Maxwel Cornet.
It’s very obvious that Newcastle are indeed in search of attacking reinforcements this summer, having relied heavily on Callum Wilson last term, as he finished top scorer on eight league strikes despite starting just 16 games.
The Athletic has reported and identified a whole host of players the Magpies are linked with such as Armando Broja, Moussa Diaby and Jack Harrison. However, over the weekend, The Chronicle reported that Newcastle had been offered the chance to sign Cornet, who was recently relegated with Burnley.
The winger managed to register nine goals and three assists for the Clarets last term, but that doesn’t seem to have been enough to convince Newcastle he’s right for them, according to Stokes.
He said: “Lee Ryder reported on Saturday that Cornet has been offered to Newcastle. I think he’s been offered to a number of teams; we know Burnley need to get some of their bigger earners off the wage bill and we know that Cornet would probably bring them in quite a hefty fee as well for a Championship club.
Who would be better for Newcastle?
Saint-Maximin!
Cornet!
“You’ve touched on it there, he plays on the left and he’s a flashy winger, we have pretty much a better version of him in Saint-Maximin.
“I was looking this morning at other clubs that have been sort of touted for him, the likes of Everton and Fulham, I think – is it a case of offering him to Newcastle and that’s it? Probably. So I can’t see Cornet happening at the minute despite the offer being there.”
TIF Thoughts on Cornet being offered to Newcastle…
It appears that Stokes may be looking at the Cornet v Saint-Maximin debate with slightly rose-tinted spectacles on, as the Burnley winger performed at the same level as the Newcastle winger last season, with the pair registering 10 league goal involvements each, despite Cornet featuring in nine fewer games (FBRef).
It’s not just the stats that show how good a player Cornet is, as Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane labelled the winger ‘fantastic‘ last season, especially for the variety of goals he was able to score at Turf Moor.
The reports have suggested that Cornet will be available this summer for just £17.5m, which surely would prove to be great value for money given he’s proved himself to be a Premier League-quality winger, so around even better players, he could really reach an impressive standard.