---
title: "Crystal Palace: Eagles face competition from Watford for Allan Saint-Maximin"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-eagles-face-competition-from-watford-for-allan-saint-maximin/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Caleb Sage"
section: "Crystal Palace"
published: "2019-07-09T19:00:04Z"
modified: "2019-07-09T19:00:04Z"
---

# Crystal Palace: Eagles face competition from Watford for Allan Saint-Maximin

**Crystal Palace face competition from Watford in the race for Nice winger Allan Saint-Maximin, [according to the Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7226487/Watford-enquire-25m-rated-Nice-winger-Allan-Saint-Maximin.html).**

[The English outlet reported at the end of June that Saint-Maximin was a player the south London club viewed as potential competition for Wilfried Zaha before eventually replacing him](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7187417/Crystal-Palace-pay-25m-Nice-winger-Allan-Saint-Maximin.html).

However, with Watford now said to have made an enquiry about the 22-year-old, Crystal Palace may have to act fast or risk losing him to a Premier League rival.

As well as Watford and Crystal Palace, the Daily Mail reports that Newcastle United are also interested in Saint-Maximin, making this transfer tussle an even more interesting one.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Losing out on Saint-Maximin to Watford would surely come as a blow to Roy Hodgson and Crystal Palace; the Frenchman looks capable of bringing so much to the Eagles’ attack.

For example, when looking at his stats, everything points towards Saint-Maximin being a signing who can help Hodgson’s side out wide.

In Ligue 1 last season, he averaged an incredible [4.2](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/135891/Show/Allan-Saint-Maximin) dribbles per game, which was more than what even Wilfried Zaha [(3.4)](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/85059/Show/Wilfried-Zaha) managed in the Premier League. In fact, those 4.2 dribbles per game mean Saint-Maximin averaged more than any other player in [English football’s top flight](https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/7361/Stages/16368/PlayerStatistics/England-Premier-League-2018-2019) (as per WhoScored).

Meanwhile, back in [Ligue 1](https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/74/Tournaments/22/Seasons/7344/Stages/16348/PlayerStatistics/France-Ligue-1-2018-2019), only Neymar (4.4) and Hatem Ben Arfa (4.5) made more. Based on that, it is no surprise that Saint-Maximin is being earmarked as an alternative to Zaha. Looking at those stats, Crystal Palace will surely struggle to find a winger who is as devastating 1v1 on the flank as the former France U21 international.

With Javi Gracia and Watford sniffing around, though, they need to be quick.

***Crystal Palace fans, will the club beat Watford to Saint-Maximin’s signature? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!***