Newcastle United have snapped up winger Allan Saint-Maximin.
New Newcastle signing Allan Saint-Maximin has told The Chronicle that the club actually wanted to sign him in 2018.
The Magpies made two moves on Friday, signing Eintracht Frankfurt full back Jetro Willems on loan and securing Saint-Maximin.
The Guardian report that the deal for Saint-Maximin is worth around £20million in total, with £16.5million being paid up from for the Frenchman.
The 22-year-old made his debut against Saint-Etienne on Saturday, coming off the bench to impress fans with his speed and trickery whilst helping set up Matty Longstaff’s goal.
Fans will hope for more exciting moments with Saint-Maximin in the side, and he’ll be looking to build on his six goals and three assists in Ligue 1 last season.
Saint-Maximin has now commented on his move, claiming that the Magpies actually wanted to sign him last year, but Patrick Vieira told him to stay with Nice before he was finally able to join this summer.
“It was a difficult transfer,” said Saint-Maximin. “Newcastle came in December last year so it has been a long time for me. Nice did not want to let me go because they needed players. The trainer wanted me to stay. I told him I wanted to go to Newcastle.”
“Newcastle came for me again so now it is my dream to be in the Premier League. It is a very good club,” he added.
Saint-Maximin’s comments will raise questions about Steve Bruce’s input, as Steve Nickson appears to have been the one driving Newcastle’s interest for more than six months.
Some have questioned whether Bruce has much of an input in transfers, especially with three long-term targets arriving in Willems, Joelinton and Saint-Maximin, and whilst Bruce may well have accepted all three, some will now wonder whether it’s really Nickson calling the shots after Saint-Maximin’s comments.
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