Ask director of football Dan Ashworth what Newcastle United must do to be considered an elite club and the answer might surprise.
“Fans are obviously more interested in who we are going to sign but the top clubs are good ‘sellers’ too,” a senior St James’ Park source tells i.
“Look at Manchester City last summer and the talent they let go while becoming better. We haven’t had to do that yet but somewhere down the line it’s inevitable.”
Could it be that the theory will be tested this summer by their most maverick talent Allan Saint-Maximin?
Saint-Maximin chose the second week in June to post a lengthy, emotional statement on Instagram in which the top line was him admitting that his career is “at a turning point”. It was an honest missive that hinted at personal frustration amid the wider success story at St James’ Park.
“I always tried my best to help the club in the best way possible, even by playing injured,” he wrote.
“This year has been one of the most difficult year emotionally, you are not able to know that as I keep personal things for myself, but I lost some really important people, and that is nothing compared to all the things that happened in my life this year.
“But I always tried to be present on the pitch and give everything.”
Saint-Maximin played 25 times last season, scoring once and offering reminders of his towering talent but it was often difficult to pinpoint exactly where he sits in Eddie Howe‘s grand plan, which is based on intensity, work-rate and the ability to transition quickly and with lethal intent.
Publicly there have always been warm words from the manager about Saint-Maximin and there is a genuine belief that he is unlike anything else in their squad in his ability change a game with a flash of skill or one of his runs. In a squad that presses ferociously, he is certainly something different.
But the post hints at more existential questions for a player who was the club’s main man before the takeover. He is popular at the club but high maintenance, a player who was devastated not to be part of France‘s World Cup squad and covets the Ballon d’Or but hasn’t always been a regular for Newcastle.
— Allan Saint-Maximin (@asaintmaximin) May 28, 2023
His social media post seems to be suggesting that a change of club might be the best way to get there.
Newcastle’s stance is that they would like to keep Saint-Maximin at St James’ Park. This is a summer to build for a Champions League campaign which will stretch the squad and if he’s around, he will get games.
But the reality is more opaque. The right offer – and that would likely not be far from the £40million that was being quoted last summer – could certainly initiate conversations.
Previously Arsenal and Chelsea have shown interest in the forward, but not at the sort of price Newcastle were quoting. AC Milan have also been linked with him, but are unlikely to match the Magpies’ asking price either. City rivals Inter are another option.
Ironically, one insider tells i that qualifying for the Champions League means unpalatable sales are off the table for Newcastle. Had they not made Europe, the vagaries of Financial Fair Play would have meant player trading was inevitable this summer.
At this stage the odds are in favour of Saint-Maximin staying but as one recruitment source told i his name is “one to watch” as the summer progresses.
It will be a busy summer on Tyneside. As i reported last month, the club are keen on James Maddison and Kieran Tierney. Aston Villa are also interested in the latter, but Newcastle have laid the groundwork for a move for the Scotland defender.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/CAv7dXr
Post a Comment