Newcastle are reportedly planning to follow up Joelinton’s club-record move from TSG Hoffenheim by smashing the club’s record spend in a single window, and could that be fast-tracked by adding OGC Nice forward Allan Saint-Maximin to Steve Bruce’s ranks?
United are understood to be interested in signing the Frenchman this summer, and it appears the 22-year-old would be open to life on Tyneside too, after he liked Joelinton’s Instagram post announcing himself as a Magpies player.
Chatenay-Malabry-born Saint-Maximin has never played with Alianca, Brazil-born Joelinton, so a connection between the two would be hard to assume.
However, the pair are represented by the same agency ROGON, who also work for German international Nico Schulz who completed a move from Hoffenheim to Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer, as well as Chelsea’s Tiemoue Bakayoko and Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino.
If Newcastle are to make the speculated move for Saint-Maximin, the board will have to convince Bruce of the benefits, as he is thought to be somewhat opposed to his signing following a scouting report he requested upon his arrival on Tyneside.
Former Toon head coach target and OGC Nice boss Patrick Vieira likewise has his doubts over Saint-Maximin, as while he accepts the talent he possesses, the former Arsenal midfielder sees issues with the forward’s attitude, and is thus open to his departure.
Nevertheless, Magpies executives are believed to be open to striking a deal with the Ligue 1 side for their former U21 international, and intend to open proceedings with a €15million (£13.3m) offer in a bid to avoid paying €25million (£22.2m) for a previously-valued €40million (£35.6m) talent.
Here’s what these Newcastle supporters had to say when it was shared on Reddit that Saint-Maximin liked Joelinton’s post announcing himself as a United player…
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