Allan Saint-Maximin has an uncertain future at Newcastle United this summer. The 25-year-old has interest from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur among other clubs and may be granted a departure for the right price as Eddie Howe is keen to cash in on his signature.
Read Newcastle have said numerous times that the Magpies should accept a bid in excess of £40m for Saint-Maximin as his impact at St James’ Park hasn’t been greater than that valuation, but Frank McAvennie disagrees. He wants to see the Frenchman stay for the rest of his career if possible to become a legend.
He told Football Insider: “It depends on whether he wants to be part of the progression there’s going to be at Newcastle. He could be there and go down in folklore by staying there for the rest of his career.
“If I was him I would want to be part of Newcastle because he’s still young enough. He can still be there in five or six years when they’re challenging for the league.”
Newcastle have lucrative resources for new arrivals, but they also need to stay in line of Financial Fair Play. So if Howe wants to make more signings, he may need to sanction the sale of one or two players.
Saint-Maximin could bring in £40m-£50m if reports are to be believed and all Newcastle would lose is a player that hasn’t managed more than five goals and five assists in a Premier League season, so it’s not a bad deal.
But McAvennie believes he should avoid temptation and resist the urge to join a big-six club. He feels Newcastle will be challenging for major honours in a few years, but players don’t tend to wait that long if they have offers to leave.
Saint-Maximin isn’t likely to reject Chelsea or Tottenham to stay at Newcastle as they’re at the beginning of their project.
In other news, Newcastle wise to move for Callum Hudson-Odoi
