AC Milan have now pulled the plug on the potential transfer of Newcastle United star Allan Saint-Maximin. The Rossoneri have been in talks with the Toon forward’s representatives.
That is according to Calciomercato, which reports Saint-Maximin wants to leave Newcastle before Tuesday’s transfer deadline. But AC Milan have now chosen to snub their chance to sign the attacker. San Siro chiefs had grown quizzical of their chances of a permanent deal.
Agents had offered AC Milan the chance to sign Saint-Maximin as he targets a transfer out of Newcastle this month. But the Rossoneri felt they would not be able to make any move a permanent swoop at the end of the season having only been able to agree to a loan now.
Saint-Maximin wants to leave St James’ Park with Magpies coach Eddie Howe targeting the transfer of Anthony Gordon from Everton. He opposes the idea of a heightened fight to get minutes on Tyneside having already failed to oust Joelinton to play on the Toon’s left flank.
Howe has only fielded Saint-Maximin in 12 of a potential 13 Premier League fixtures so far this season. He has further only started the 25-year-old in four of the Magpies’ 20 matches and not since August 28. Saint-Maximin has missed seven games due to a hamstring injury.
AC Milan pull the plug on Saint-Maximin’s desired transfer out of Newcastle
Prior reports by Calciomercato noted that Saint-Maximin had offered himself to AC Milan as the Newcastle star coveted a transfer to San Siro. The forward told his agent to discuss a move to Serie A with the Rossoneri leadership as he wants to leave St James’ this month.
AC Milan sporting director Frederic Massara admires Saint-Maximin ‘a lot’ and has tried to sign him previously. But he immediately feared the Magpies would want too much for any obligation to buy the £93k-a-week dynamo. The Rossoneri can only afford a loan deal now.
Newcastle value Saint-Maximin at in excess of €30m (£26.5m), per Gianluca Di Marzio. The Tyneside outfit paid OGC Nice an initial £16.5m, rising up to £20m with add-ons, in August 2019 to sign the winger. He is under contract to 2026 having penned an extension in 2020.
Yet the forward’s inability to regain a key role in Howe’s squad before Gordon’s arrival has kept Saint-Maximin to 479 minutes of Premier League football so far this term. He has also scored one goal and assisted three, nor has he influenced the scoring in four EFL Cup ties.
Saint-Maximin stunned Jamie Redknapp after the forward scored to secure Newcastle a 1-1 draw at Wolves earlier this season. The Frenchman hit home in the 90th minute to strike out Ruben Neves’ first-half opener. But it remains the winger’s only top-flight goal this season.
“Unplayable on his day, he really is,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports Premier League (13:44, 28/08/2022). “When he gets into the box and takes people on, you can’t stop him.”
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