Howe's bold Saint-Maximin transfer strategy paves way forward for Newcastle

22 July 2023 , 08:00

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Eddie Howe was full of praise for Allan Saint-Maximin ahead of his potential exit (Image: Serena Taylor/Getty Images)

As Eddie Howe heaped “love and respect” on departing Allan Saint-Maximin, in flew Leicester winger Harvey Barnes as his replacement.

Fans’ favourite Saint Max out for £25m, Barnes, relegated with Leicester in for £35m. This week marked a significant reshuffle of Newcastle’s left-wing threat and an indication of the club's financial policy. They will buy.. but also be timely sellers.

Is this Howe’s first big transfer gamble as Newcastle sell a star for decent money for the first time in a long time? Or actually a statistically proven upgrade?

Howe admitted Saint-Maximin being sold to Al-Ahli was a “difficult moment”, speaking of mutual respect, a player who had done well for him.

The showdown with the player about his sale was, Howe conceded, “emotional”. But at Newcastle’s new level, it’s a ruthless business.

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And Barnes’ productivity, in goals and assists, even last season in a relegated Leicester side, prove that the numbers do add up, and not just in terms of easing the Toon’s Financial Fair Play concerns.

Newcastle scout by analyst these days, laptop warriors seeking out value worldwide, before making in-person checks.

Barnes is the sort of direct, fit, quick, forward Howe likes. He delivered 13 Premier League goals last season and one in 34 games. In 32 games in the 2021-22 season, he scored six and made ten goals.

Saint-Maximin is on the brink of a lucrative switch to the Saudi Pro League

Barnes has 28 league goals in the last three seasons. Saint-Maximin has just nine - one last term - and averages between four and five assists per campaign. Saint-Maximin has the sort of eye-catching X-factor trickery fans love, but Howe must feel it doesn’t add up to a tangible reward for the team.

Ask a teammate about him and the stock response was: amazing talent and “you never know what he’s going to do next.” Which is a problem for strikers looking for a pass.

He will have a place in the heart of Toon fans for the way he rescued them from relegation in that COVID-restricted season and was a shining light during grimmer, pre-takeover times.

But even the biggest clubs trade. Maxi was the obvious choice this summer, especially given the Al-Ahli are owned by the PIF of Saudi Arabia, who also own 80pc of Newcastle. The deal will be approved because it represents fair value. Some Geordies will say he’s gone cheaply.

Newcastle are set to replace Saint-Maximin with Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes (Plumb Images/Leicester City)

Saint-Maximin was a bit of a maverick. He used to park his Ferrari in the door of the training ground, even when Howe had a notice put up on the window saying to allow a gap between the manager and club captain’s parking bays.

“You lot notice everything…” was Howe’s response when I asked him about the parking trouble last summer.

But it wasn’t his attitude that made him dispensable. Saint-Maximin didn’t deliver his peak form - his best game cited by Howe the 3-3 draw with Man City opening up last season - and was too often injured, and needed to be nurtured back gently with sub appearances.

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Howe said: “With financial fair play you have to trade otherwise for us this summer you’re stuck and we couldn’t recruit players the other way.

“Maxi is a top player, we don’t want to lose him, we want to strengthen the group. But sometimes these things happen. It will be a difficult moment for all of us. We have mutual respect.

The Newcastle squad are currently gearing up for the 2023/24 campaign in the United States (Serena Taylor/Newcastle United)

“When a player has done well for me, which he has, you are grateful. I respect him immensely. There has been no issue between us and we have had a really healthy relationship from day one. Sometimes these things have to happen for the club to grow.”

Newcastle are growing, but not as fast as they’d want to cope with the Champions League next season.‌

But they also have an embarrassment of wide men. Anthony Gordon, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson, could all play left in a front three. Jacob Murphy, Miggy Almiron wide right.

Fans who are concerned about the Toon selling should get used to it. Looking ahead to future summers, could they cash in and sell Bruno Guimareas to Barcelona or Real Madrid for £80m-plus.

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Simon Bird