Allan Saint-Maximin ‘overpriced at £50m’ as Newcastle United details emerge – pundit
Allan Saint-Maximin’s transfer from Newcastle United to Al-Ahli is a “grey area” in football business.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton said if Newcastle had demanded £50million for Saint-Maximin it would have raised eyebrows.
According to The Athletic (22 July), a number of Premier League clubs are planning to raise concerns with the league over the deal which is taking place between two teams under the same majority ownership – Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The league regulations state that any transfer over £1m is checked to ensure it does not “exceed market value” whilst other clubs are worried that the PIF link is being used to inflate the winger’s fee and help Newcastle with financial fair play rules.
The 26-year-old has confirmed his departure from St James’ Park as he prepares to make a £30m move to the Saudi Pro League side.
Hutton suggested that as long as the final fee is not way above Saint-Maximin’s value, there shouldn’t be a big problem.
“It is an interesting one and there will be a lot of eyes on the situation,” he told Football Insider.
“It all comes down to the valuation of the player and teams trying to balance their books.
“If we are sitting and saying a Saudi team would pay £50m for him, that would be overpriced and I think everybody from the outside looking in can see that.
“He is a great footballer, £20m is probably about right for a player of his quality but it is definitely a grey area.“
In other news, Newcastle United two-man signing plan revealed as new details emerge.