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Newcastle transfer news: Leandro Trossard considered as potential Allan Saint-Maximin replacement

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Brighton’s Leandro Trossard is being lined up as a potential replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin at Newcastle United, according to The Daily Mail.

What’s the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

Despite Eddie Howe stressing Saint-Maximin has a long-term future at St James’ Park, the Frenchman continues to be linked with a move away from the club.

Recently, The Athletic suggested that well-placed sources could not “definitively state” the 25-year-old would remain at Newcastle beyond the end of the season amid reported interest from the likes of Wolves, Aston Villa and Everton.

Clearly, that does not mean he will leave, but it’s hard to get away from how frequent the exit links surrounding Saint-Maximin are becoming, even after the PIF takeover.

As a result, Newcastle have reportedly added Trossard to their potential list of targets, alongside Bayer Leverkusen Moussa Diaby and Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson. For his part, Trossard is believed to be looking to leave Brighton at the end of the season, although striking a deal with a Premier League rival could be difficult.

How do Trossard and Saint-Maximin compare?

leandro-trossard-playing-for-brighton-against-newcastle-in-the-premier-league-2021

For many Newcastle fans, the idea of comparing Trossard and Saint-Maximin would be ridiculous.

While that is not a reflection on the Belgian’s quality, Saint-Maximin has so often been Newcastle’s saviour and, on his day, is one of the most thrilling players to watch in the Premier League.

Still, as we’ve seen amid some rather tame performances from the Frenchman, the former Nice winger does suffer with inconsistency.

On a per-game basis (via WhoScored), Trossard fares slightly better in some defensive metrics, averaging more tackles (1 to 0.4) and interceptions (0.5 to 0.4). Clearly, that is not either player’s primary job in the team, but Howe is believed to want more from Saint-Maximin off of the ball, which might explain the reported interest in the Brighton forward.

Going forward, Saint-Maximin only trails Trossard for shots per game (1.9 to 2.3). Otherwise, it is the Frenchman who averages more key passes (1.4 to 1.2), dribbles (4.3 to 1.8) and fouls draw (1.4 to 0.9).

On that evidence, it’s hard to see what Trossard would bring as an improvement to the attack, albeit he might be slightly more of a diligent defender.

That’s not to say the Brighton man would necessarily be a bad signing, it’s just that Saint-Maximin offers more going forward.

What has been said about Leandro Trossard?

Writing (via Sussex Live) following Brighton’s 3-0 win over Newcastle in January 2021, Alan Shearer praised the Belgian international.

“An outstanding display by the Belgian, marked by some incisive passes and a wonderful opening goal that set the tone for victory.”

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