Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be interested in signing Newcastle United sensation Allan Saint-Maximin this summer, according to recent reports.
What’s the latest on Saint-Maximin to Spurs?
Alasdair Gold of football.london revealed earlier this month that Spurs’ sporting director Fabio Paratici is said to be a “big fan” of the fleet-footed Frenchman, while former Premier League striker Louis Saha suggested that either the Lilywhites or local rivals Arsenal could be a potential destination for the 25-year-old this summer.
The former Nice wizard had been linked with a potential move to AC Milan during the January transfer window but he ultimately stayed put at St James’ Park, with journalist Rudy Galetti suggesting at the time that the winger could have an asking price of around £60m.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Pete O’Rourke has now provided his verdict on the possibility of the 5 foot 8 gem making the move to N17, with the transfer insider stating that the explosive talent could well be able to thrive for Antonio Conte’s side.
The respected source stated: “Yeah, he’s a top player St Maximin, we know on his day he can be a potential match winner and he’s a real box of tricks he’s direct and can score goals, create goals and as I said, he has a part of unpredictability about him as well, so he’s got that X factor in the final third maybe some people have questioned Spurs haven’t had that this season.
“There’s been too much reliance on Harry Kane and with maybe Son on when not been at his best this season as well while Richarlison has struggled with injuries.”
Could Saint-Maximin be an heir to Son at Spurs?
The search for new attacking talent has come amid the ongoing woes of the previously prolific Heung-min Son, with the South Korea international having scored just five top-flight goals so far this season, after previously finishing as the league’s joint-top scorer last term with 23 goals.
Those struggles have seen the 30-year-old restricted to a substitute role off the bench in recent weeks, having failed to start the last two league games, with the previously ever-present speedster no longer looking like a guaranteed starter for the north London outfit.
As such, turning to someone like Saint-Maximin could prove a long-term solution on the left flank, with the latter potentially able to help bolster Conte’s firepower heading into next season.
While the Magpies forward has himself not been prolific this season – scoring just once and providing only three assists in 15 Premier League games – he is still able to provide a real threat from his wide berth, having been lauded as “unplayable” by former Everton boss Frank Lampard last season.
Also described as a player who can “cause trouble” by journalist Jordan Cronin during Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat, the £70k-per-week maverick has the ability to be something of a game-changer in the final third, having notably produced a stunning piece of skill to beat Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot at Wembley.
That quality has also been evidenced by the fact that the 5 foot 8 winger ranks in the top 1% in Europe for successful take-ons among players in his position, as well as in the top 3% for progressive carries.
As O’Rourke noted, that ‘X factor’ could well help to provide a much-needed alternative for Spurs in the forward line, with the club no longer able to totally rely on both Son and talisman Harry Kane to solely deliver the goods .The latter faces an uncertain future at the club, with just under 18 months left on his current contract.
With now perhaps the time for Paratici to look to the future in trying to fashion a more youthful forward line, a move for Saint-Maximin could be crucial in that changing of the guard.
