Newcastle are near to reaching an agreement with OGC Nice for the transfer of Allan Saint-Maximin, according to RMC Sport.
The French publication understand United offered the Ligue 1 outfit an opening €16million (£14.2m) for the 22-year-old forward, but saw the approach rebuffed by President Gauthier Ganaye.
Les Aiglons chiefs are instead believed to be holding out for €20million (£17.8m) after head coach Patrick Vieira displayed a willingness to part ways with the talented youngster, as the former Toon managerial target was left unimpressed by the £19,713-a-week ace’s attitude throughout their recent campaign.
Ganaye had been hopeful of earning €30m-40million (£26.7m-£35.6m) from the sale of Saint-Maximin, but has gradually lowered his valuation of the former France U21 international throughout the summer.
It would be expected that Newcastle will now return to the Riviera side with an improved offer, having placed a €25million (£22.2m) valuation of their own on the ROGON represented forward ahead of the opening approach.
ROGON also represent United’s club-record signing Joelinton, whose Instagram posts announcing himself as a Magpie caught the eye of Saint-Maximin earlier in the week.
Chatenay-Malabry-born Saint-Maximin scored six goals and penned five assists in 34 Ligue 1 outings during 2018/19, with his goal involvement spread across the front line.
Newcastle fans reacting to RMC Sport’s report of a €16m bid being rejected have been sharing their hope in a deal now being agreed, with many nothing that they expected our initial approach to be rebuffed.
Here’s how these fans reacted…
Back to normality? Under bidding and failed to get over the line… from r/NUFC
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