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Newcastle United: Allan Saint-Maximin ‘not for sale’ in summer
Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin is not for sale, despite rumours surrounding his future on Tyneside, it has been claimed.
The Lowdown: Saint-Maximin in demand
Saint-Maximin’s future is hardly set in stone, as he has been ousted from the starting XI at St James’ Park and struggled with injury problems this term.
Meanwhile, it has been suggested that Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur could be among his potential suitors come the summer, despite the Frenchman’s contract not expiring until 2026.
However, it appears that he is very much a respected figure at Newcastle and there are currently no plans to cash in on the 25-year-old.
The Latest: Saint-Maximin ‘not for sale’ at Newcastle
Football Insider’s Fraser Fletcher, speaking on The Insider Show, has claimed that despite the speculation over Saint-Maximin’s role at Newcastle, he remains in Eddie Howe’s plans on Tyneside.
He said: “Eddie Howe has spoken about how much he likes Allan Saint-Maximin and is excited by what he brings. I think he’s great to watch because I don’t even think he knows what he’s going to do when he’s got the ball at times. But he produces sublime moments of absolute magic, but then also sometimes some frustration as well.
“But it’s clear that those in the game believe he has got the potential to go to the very, very top in terms of ability, and some of the things he does in training are absolutely outrageous. It would take a big bid to move Allan Saint-Maximin from Newcastle – not impossible, obviously; many clubs could look at him as an option.
“But at this point in time, he is not for sale, he’s not been transfer listed. He’s a player that’s loved and adored by the staff there and the players there. He’s seen as an exceptional talent and it would take a lot to shift him.
“Of course, there’s a long way to go until the transfer window starts and of course, things change. But at this point in time, he’s still very much in the plans for Newcastle United, still very much in the plans for Eddie Howe, and you would expect him to be there.”
The Verdict: Win-win situation for Newcastle and PIF
We think that it would be tricky for Newcastle to lose out whichever way they decide to resolve Saint-Maximin’s future.
One scenario would be that he stays and continues to develop in the north-east, and judging by Fletcher’s comments, the club would have no qualms with him staying amid rumblings of discontent from the winger over the Magpies’ summer business.
Alternatively, Saint-Maximin could either fail to live up to expectations or demand to be let go. In these cases, Howe would arguably hold all the cards in terms of getting what he wants.
Come the summer, the ex-France U21 international would still have three years left on his deal and has shown flashes of brilliance this season – not least in last week’s defeat to Liverpool. Therefore, there is surely no reason Newcastle would not be able to sell at a premium.
And given PIF’s riches, you would imagine that there will be no desperation for funds, even when taking Financial Fair Play considerations into account.
As a result, we struggle to see how, as it stands, Newcastle come out of this situation worse off.
