Newcastle United star Allan Saint-Maximin could look to leave this summer, according to Dean Jones.
What’s the latest Newcastle United transfer news?
A hugely popular figure amongst the club’s supporters, the 24-year-old was recently linked with a move to AS Roma as Jose Mourinho prepares to take over in the Italian capital while he has previously been touted as a potential target for the likes of Wolves and Arsenal.
Steve Bruce has ruled out selling him and, with his contract running until the summer of 2026, the club don’t seem under any huge pressure to sell.
Still, the Frenchman has been rather public in his view that the club need to start showing more ambition, telling Sky Sports that he has to start thinking about playing his way into the French national team, as well as winning trophies.
What did Jones say?
Speaking on yesterday’s episode of the Touchline Talk Podcast, Jones shared some insight into the player’s thinking.
“I think it’s logical that he’d probably look for a move,” the journalist said from the 20:32 mark onwards.
“I think that his style of play doesn’t suit a relegation battle and I don’t think he’s the type of player who wants to be at that level for too long.
“I do think that he’s probably got his eyes open if the right offer comes along.”
How many assists has Saint-Maximin got this season?
On the face of it, three goals and five assists across 24 Premier League games doesn’t exactly sound like the biggest return, though part of Saint-Maximin’s charm is just how much he changes this Newcastle team.
Without him, they have won only twice this season and his return in April after a three-game injury absence coincided with Newcastle’s best run of the season, during which he scored once and recorded two assists in crucial games against Burnley and West Ham United.
According to FBREF data, only 16 players in the whole division average more carries into the opposition’s penalty area and those names include the likes of Phil Foden, Mo Salah, Jack Grealish and Nicola Pepe, all big players at big clubs. In fact, only Adama Traore and Wilfried Zaha – two players who have been linked with major money moves over the course of their careers – beat him in that respect of players to have started over ten games for a team in the bottom half.
