Newcastle could look to bring in an upgrade on winger Allan Saint-Maximin in the near future, according to a fresh claim made by transfer guru Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: ASM's future up in the air

The Frenchman has been a talismanic figure at St James' Park at times, lighting up matches with his trickery and unpredictable style in the final third, as well as being hailed as 'breathtaking' by Gary Neville.

Saint-Maximin is currently out injured and Newcastle are arguably playing better than ever without him, wrestling their way into fourth place in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Eddie Howe has reportedly been open to the idea of letting him leave, and a new update has now emerged.

The Latest: Journalist talks up exit

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that selling Saint-Maximin is something that Newcastle would consider as they eye up a potential upgrade on the winger, with the journalist suggesting he would be the most likely big-name departure in the near future:

"It'll end up being someone like Saint-Maximin and I think that makes sense because he has the potential to bring in decent money. I think Newcastle will also get to a stage where they will look to upgrade on him and move on from him."

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The Verdict: Better without him?

To some, the idea of selling Saint-Maximin may not make sense given his natural ability, but some players can affect the entire system and are more individual in the way they play.

The 25-year-old arguably falls into that category of acting as a free spirit while not necessarily being a tactically astute footballer, which is why Howe may be content to see him leave eventually.

If the Magpies believe they can bring in a superior option, selling Saint-Maximin in the near future would make sense, especially as they would likely receive big money for him - as Jones alludes to - considering what they paid for him and how he has dazzled on Tyneside.