Aston Villa are reportedly amongst the clubs monitoring Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin after it was reported that the Magpies would be prepared to sell the Frenchman for £50m.
What’s the story?
According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are willing to cash in on their star player this summer with Villa monitoring the situation at St.James’ Park.
It is believed that the £50m asking price, if received, would be added to Newcastle manager Eddie Howe’s transfer kitty with the Tyneside club expected to make major additions to their squad following the takeover by PIF.
The 25-year-old signed a six-year contract in 2020 and is a majorly popular figure in the North-East, but could be sacrificed in order to raise funds for a squad overhaul.
Villa must swoop for Saint-Maximin
The idea of Saint-Maximin being available to purchase will undoubtedly prick up the ears of an array of clubs, particularly in the Premier League with the winger’s talents very much known of in England.
Since joining Newcastle from Nice in August 2019, the £28.8m-rated 25-year-old has scored 12 goals and registered 14 assists in 84 appearances for the Magpies and has been previously labelled as “breathtaking” by pundit Gary Neville.
Although that may not seem a tally that justifies a £50m price tag, the Frenchman has largely been playing in a drab, uninspiring Newcastle side since arriving from France.
In the two full seasons under Steve Bruce the Toon Army finished 13th and 12th respectively, with both campaigns seeing some dire football at times, with both seasons seeing the Magpies pick up 44 and 45 points respectively and score 38 and 46 goals whilst conceding 58 and 62.
This term in particular was looking set for disaster for a sustained period of time before Eddie Howe took over and steadied the ship, largely thanks to January arrivals.
Moreover, the Frenchman averages a 62% dribble success rate as well as a 75% passing accuracy and provides 1.5 key passes a game.
However, now that the Tyneside outfit are the richest club in the world following the Saudi-backed takeover, there are undoubtedly ambitious plans for the upcoming transfer window which could see fan-favourite Saint-Maximin sacrificed.
As well as Newcastle, Aston Villa are expected to spend as they enter Steven Gerrard’s first summer transfer window as Villa boss and have already been linked with big-money moves, such as paying £50m for Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.
Currently, the Villans have the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Emi Buendia, Leon Bailey and Bertrand Traore on the flanks but only Coutinho can hold his head high for his efforts this campaign.
The Brazilian joined on loan from Barcelona in January and has already become a fan favourite with four goals and three assists and could be set for a permanent move to Villa Park this summer.
Both Traore and Bailey have spent good portions of the season out injured whilst Buendia has scored just twice after becoming the West Midland’s club’s record transfer last summer, joining from Norwich City for £38m.
There is certainly room in the Villa squad to accommodate Saint-Maximin in the Villa ranks who, alongside Coutinho, could establish a cut-throat partnership that would undoubtedly terrorise defences.
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