Newcastle United

Newcastle United: Journalist suggests that Allan Saint-Maximin could be let go this summer

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Image for Newcastle United: Journalist suggests that Allan Saint-Maximin could be let go this summer

Journalist Craig Hope has suggested that Newcastle United may be prepared to allow Allan Saint-Maximin to leave in the summer.

Ahead of the current campaign, the Frenchman’s future was shrouded in doubt with speculation circling that Newcastle were willing to listen to offers for the winger.

However, the 25-year-old remained at the club over the summer and made a rampaging start to the season.

He lit St James’ Park up with two assists against champions Manchester City before grabbing a late equaliser against Wolves.

But injury has limited him to 33 Premier League minutes, and with the club taking 24 points from 33 in that time, Hope feels Saint-Maximin is now expendable.

Speaking on the True Faith podcast, he said: “The situation with Saint-Maximin, a lot of it goes back to the very end of last season when his agents were told that if they could get a deal for him at 40 to 40-plus million, Newcastle might be willing to listen to it.

“So I think ever since then, there’s been that seed in the back of his mind. Now, that didn’t happen because no one met the asking price. Eddie [Howe] said he’s still a tremendously talented player who [he wants] to work with, they’d just identified him as a potential means to navigating FFP, because he’s basically the only player in the squad at that time who was a saleable asset and you understand why.

“But what the last five games have proven – five straight victories without Saint-Maximin in the starting XI – is that perhaps that judgement from people within the club last summer – Eddie Howe, his coaching staff, the people above, the scouting team – that is an Eddie Howe team better off without Allan Saint-Maximin in it.

“I think the last five matches have perhaps indicated, that they were right to consider selling him up when they did.

“His long-term future at the club, I expect it will be away from Tyneside, I really do, beyond next summer. 

“It’s just a case of finding someone who is willing to give Newcastle the money whereby it represents value, because there’s no point in giving Allan Saint-Maximin away at £10-15m if you’ve then you’ve got to go and spend £25-30m on someone who is potentially not as good as him.”

TIF Thoughts on ASM and Newcastle…

Should Newcastle sell Saint-Maximin?

Yes!

Yes!

No!

No!

Before the PIF takeover, Saint-Maximin seemed like a big fish in a small pond on Tyneside, with former Toon ace Rob Lee dubbing him unplayable“. 

Last season, he was the club’s best-performing player among those who started more than five games with an average WhoScored match rating of 7.09.

Howe has admitted during his absence that the side have missed the £93k-per-week sparkplug at times due to his style of play, which would seem to suggest that he still has a role to play – but Hope certainly raises an intriguing argument.

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