Allan Saint-Maximin: Pundit can’t believe Tottenham could complete £50m deal after latest
Noel Whelan has suggested Tottenham target Allan Saint-Maximin would not be an upgrade on backup winger Steven Bergwijn.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 25-year-old would be “spending most of his time on the bench” if he joined Antonio Conte’s side.
According to football.london (4 June), Tottenham are weighing up a move for Saint-Maximin – with director of football Fabio Paratici said to be a “big admirer” of the player.
The Daily Mail claim (2 April) Newcastle would listen to £50million offers for the winger despite him committing to a six-year contract in 2020.
Saint-Maximin started 31 league games in the 2021-22 campaign – notching five goals and five assists.
Whelan claimed he could find himself in the same position as wantaway star Bergwijn if the Frenchman were to join Spurs.
“You’re not going to budge any of that front three,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“If you’re going to Tottenham right now as a forward, you’re going to fight for your place. You have to be honest – you’re spending most of your time on the bench unless there’s an injury.
“The front three is formidable. Conte wants to build.
“£50million is a lot of money for a player who will be sat on the bench. He’s a good player, but they may as well keep Bergwijn around.
“Saint-Maximin could well be in the same position as him.”
Speaking to Dutch outlet AD (5 June), Bergwijn claimed he was “hardly looked at” by Conte in the final months of the 2021-22 season.
Newcastle paid a reported potential fee of £20million to sign Saint-Maximin in 2019.
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