Newcastle United have been subject to plenty of attention over recent weeks regarding their January transfer window activity, the first under the ownership of PIF.
The additions of midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon and right-back Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid were the standout deals struck by the Magpies during the month and they should certainly boost Eddie Howe’s chances of avoiding relegation.
However, there are other players already in Newcastle’s squad who were signed under the much-maligned Mike Ashley regime who have proven to be bargains, with Allan Saint-Maximin arguably top of that particular list.
The Frenchman was signed from Ligue 1 outfit Nice in August 2019 for a fee of £16.5m, which was reported to rise to £20m with add-ons, and he has been a revelation since.
Labelled “breathtaking” by Gary Neville earlier this season, Saint-Maximin has hardly missed a game since moving to the northeast, making 79 appearances for Newcastle whilst scoring 12 goals and registering 14 assists, averaging a goal involvement every 3.04 games.
However, his return in the Premier League this season is slightly better, with his five goals and three assists in 21 appearances amounting to a goal involvement every 2.63 games, which suggests that the 24-year-old’s stock is only going to rise even further. Moreover, according to SofaScore, the winger is averaging 4.3 dribbles per game with a success rate of 63%, whilst maintaining a 76% passing accuracy.
The Tyneside outfit have a real gem on their hands, as can be seen by the changes in the Frenchman’s market value during his two-and-a-half-year spell in the northeast.
Having been signed for an initial £16.5m, Saint-Maximin was worth £22.5m soon after joining Newcastle according to Transfermarkt.
That figure dipped to £18m when the pandemic hit just under two years ago, but the Frenchman is now back to his highest-ever valuation of £28.8m, an increase of 75% on his 2019 outlay, and it’s hard to argue that it won’t increase further if he maintains his recent form.
Transfermarkt also rate Saint-Maximin as the Newcastle United player with the highest current value, ahead of Bruno Guimaraes, who was signed for £40m last month whilst being valued at £27m.
Newcastle’s position in the Premier League is still very precarious. Howe’s side are a point behind 17th-placed Norwich with a game in hand, but Burnley (19) have played two games fewer than the Magpies.
It is imperative that Saint-Maximin maintains his good form and continues improving, as he could prove to be the man who makes the difference for the Magpies in their bid for top-flight survival.
AND in other news, “From what I’ve heard”: Waugh drops behind-scenes PIF claim that’ll intrigue NUFC fans…
from FootballFanCast.com https://ift.tt/hteEOfM
via IFTTT