Premier League

Howe would only sell Newcastle star for ‘big’ money but a deal is not ‘impossible’

Eddie Howe speaks to Allan Saint-Maximin

Newcastle United would reportedly only sell attacker Allan Saint-Maximin if they received a “big” bid but despite that, a deal would not be “impossible”.

Saint-Maximin’s star quality cannot be understated. A player that can beat a defender and make a back-line look silly like he can is a valuable commodity.

The Frenchman has also chipped in with goals and assists over the past few seasons. His best return was last season, when he bagged five goals and five assists in 35 Premier League appearances.

This term, mainly because of injury, he’s struggled a little bit more to be effective. Indeed, in 15 league games this season he’s scored once and assisted three times.

He’s only contributed to one goal since his injury, which came in November. It’s clear that he’s not been up to the same standard since his spell on the sidelines.

Amid the lean run, the attacker admitted he was the subject of interest from elsewhere. While he was not playing as much from the back end of last year through to January, he said teams saw it as “an opportunity to come and buy” him.

Of course, he’s remained at St James’ Park for now. It seems the Magpies are keen to keep him at the club for the foreseeable future, too.

Indeed, Football Insider reports it would ‘take a big bid to move’ the attacker. That’s because he is ‘adored by Eddie Howe and his backroom staff who believe he has the potential to go to the very top’.

While that means they want to keep him under lock and key, it doesn’t mean there’s absolutely no chance of him leaving.

Indeed, the report suggests ‘a deal for the winger would not be impossible’. It seems it would just depend on what side was to come in for him.

If a massive club was to come in and pay big money, they’d seemingly be unable to turn it down. But due to his quality, if it’s not a very lucrative offer, he’ll be staying at the club.

Given he’s not been as effective of late, Newcastle could well be safe from anybody trying to snare him. If he does pick up his form throughout the rest of the season, though, big sides could see that as a reason to swoop for him.

READ MORE: Newcastle target Premier League centre-back for summer but expect ‘stiff competition’ due to quality

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