Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin is attracting interest from numerous clubs both in England and abroad.
The Daily Mail linked him to PSG and Tottenham over the weekend, with the latter prepared to include Juan Foyth or current Magpies loanee Danny Rose in any potential deal.
Meanwhile, French outlet Le 10 Sport have reported the interest of Napoli and Spurs’ hated rivals Arsenal.
While no side has made a formal approach as of yet, it is possible that at least one of them will do so when the transfer window opens.
These links have come up despite his manager, Steve Bruce, claiming that there is ‘no chance’ of the Frenchman leaving the club this summer.
Saint-Maximin: an exciting entertainer
Saint-Maximin has developed into quite the cult hero in the North East.
Can't see myself which one is mine that's crazy
— Allan Saint-Maximin (@asaintmaximin) January 15, 2020
The 23-year-old’s pace, trickery and incredible dribbling ability make him one of the Premier League’s best players to watch.
These, combined with his back-flipping goal celebration, Gucci headband and social media antics have made him a fan favourite at St. James’ Park.
He has three goals and four assists in 22 league games since signing from Nice last summer.
Three of these assists came against Bournemouth on July 1, which somewhat exaggerates these numbers.
So, while he may not be the most prolific as of yet, his young age means that he still has plenty of time to improve this aspect.
Even without the elite end product, Saint-Maximin is still a very useful player.
He completes 4.6 dribbles per game, which is the second-most in the league, as per Who Scored.
His sheer explosiveness frightens defenders to such an extent that simply having him on the pitch is a huge advantage, as even if he is not creating or scoring goals himself, he is creating space for others to do so.
It is clear that he is nowhere near his peak yet and he will surely become a top player when he does so.
Where will he end up?
Saint-Maximin’s ability and potential means that he could be a good target for pretty much any team in Europe.
No words. 😍 pic.twitter.com/PgJoHqGwsG
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 1, 2020
He could provide cover in the immediate future while he improves his game, before developing into a regular starter in years to come.
However, with the financial impact of the coronavirus, teams will not be spending big unless absolutely necessary.
So, while a move to the likes of Liverpool would be great for all parties, the Reds will not spend the sum that Saint-Maximin would demand this summer.
Of the four teams he is linked to, it is debatable which side would suit him best.
Arsenal seem well-covered on the wings.
Record signing Nicolas Pepe is starting to show glimpses of why they paid so much for him, while Bukayo Saka has recently signed a new deal the club.
The pair should hold onto their positions for the foreseeable future, so Mikel Arteta does not need to spend big on a winger.
PSG have two of the world’s best player on their wings – Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. However, both are constantly linked with moves away.
But Saint-Maximin is not good enough to start for the Champions League contenders just yet. This means that they should spend any potential income on someone further into their development.
Jose Mourinho’s Spurs have Heung-Min Son on Saint-Maximin’s favoured left flank. They also only signed Steven Bergwijn in January so he looks set to lock down the right side.
Perhaps Napoli would be the best choice of the lot.
Their star wide men Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne are coming to the end of their peaks. Mexican Hirving Lozano has also flopped at the Stadio San Paolo.
However, the most likely, and perhaps the best option is to stay at Newcastle United.
Saint-Maximin is loved by Toon fans and he clearly is enjoying his time there.
The Magpies’ potential takeover is still up in the air. But if it goes through, Tyneside could be a very exciting place to be in the future.
Perhaps they should consider building their new team around Allan Saint-Maximin.
