Sky Sports News host Jim White believes that Newcastle United have “surprised” a lot of people with their transfer business this summer.
As it stands, Joelinton has been the only addition to Steve Bruce’s first-team at St James’ Park after he arrived in a club-record £40million deal from Hoffenheim last month.
Sky Sports now report that Allan Saint-Maximin is also set to join the Magpies with the Tyneside club close to agreeing a fee with OGC Nice over the French winger.
White seems to be impressed with what Newcastle have managed to do since Bruce was appointed as manager.
“We understand this [Saint-Maximin deal] could result in a £20million move,” said White on Sky Sports News on Thursday night [07:51pm].
“They’ve surprised us all Newcastle to be fair.
“They got Joelinton in and he’s settling into life up in the North-East.”
OPINION
Newcastle’s business shouldn’t be lauded just yet. Although they have smashed their club-record transfer to sign Joelinton and are on the verge of taking their summer spend up to £60million by landing Saint-Maximin, they still haven’t done enough since the end of last season. Newcastle’s worst mistakes were letting people go like Rafa Benitez, Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez. Newcastle received £30million from Perez’s move to Leicester so as long as that money is used wisely to find a better player, that won’t be such a bad move. However Rondon’s exit was head-scratching and Benitez’s definitely seemed avoidable. Newcastle’s move for Joelinton wasn’t a shock because he’s someone who has been linked with them for a while and Saint-Maximin is a good young forward who has also been linked with the Premier League. If Newcastle keep on spending and maybe reach the £100million, that’s when it will be fair to say their summer business has been surprising.
