Matt Targett has been speaking to talkSPORT about his start to life at Newcastle, and he made an interesting claim about Allan Saint-Maximin.
What’s the story?
Well, Targett revealed that the £93,000-a-week Newcastle man gets fined quite a lot by Eddie Howe.
Speaking to Laura Woods, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ray Parlour, the man on loan from Aston Villa said: “He gets fined a lot actually, but you can’t really say anything to him as he’s our key player.”
Saint-Maximin may not appreciate being exposed like this, but as Targett states, it’s not as if Newcastle are going to suspend him or take further action.
The Frenchman is Newcastle’s talisman, and his ability to carry the team up the field with his mesmeric dribbling skills helps his teammates out hugely.
If he wasn’t delivering the goods on the pitch, then the Newcastle squad would have every right to be annoyed at him.
However, whilst he’s dazzling the St James’ Park faithful on a weekly basis, he can be excused for tardiness or other fine-worthy acts.
Newcastle must reward Allan Saint-Maximin
It sounds weird to say that somebody who is often getting fined should be rewarded, but if Newcastle don’t up Saint-Maximin’s salary, someone else will.
Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have no excuses to not give the 24-year-old a pay rise, especially as they’re said to be paying Kieran Trippier £100,000-a-week.
Most clubs in the Premier League would sign Saint-Maximin right now, and Newcastle need to understand that by improving the terms of his contract.
Aged just 24, he’s only going to get better, and the Magpies have to ensure they tie the exciting winger down for his best years.
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