Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves has suggested that Newcastle United are set for another Hatem Ben Arfa situation if they sign Allan Saint-Maximin from OGC Nice this summer.
French newspaper L’Equipe has reported that Newcastle are in the hunt to sign the 22-year-old winger but while Lee Charnley is interested in a deal, Steve Bruce has his reservations.
It is understood that Bruce has not heard good things about Saint-Maximin’s attitude, which has led Graves to believe that the Magpies could be set for a repeat of Ben Arfa.
“Ben Arfa part deux,” said the Sky journalist via his personal Twitter account on Monday night.
OPINION
It would seem as though there is already friction between Bruce and the Newcastle board over the club’s transfer business. Even though Bruce was hired last week by the Magpies, he and Charnley appear to be at odds over Saint-Maximin. The French winger is a good player. Last season he scored six goals and supplied five assists in 34 Ligue 1 appearances. The 22-year-old can also play on either wing or up front, so he is someone who Newcastle could certainly do with adding to their squad. Plus, the love a Frenchman. However if Bruce doesn’t want Saint-Maximin and has concerns about his attitudes then that should be the end of it. If the manager doesn’t want a player, why sign him? Bruce is going to learn the hard way just why he should not have taken the job to succeed Rafa Benitez at St James’ Park because it sounds like this is the kind of thing that made the popular Spaniard quit Tyneside.
