Allan Saint-Maximin tipped to reject Arsenal move in favour of Newcastle United stay – pundit
Frank McAvennie is adamant Allan Saint-Maximin would choose to stay at Newcastle United over a move to Arsenal.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-West Ham striker said Saint-Maximin will want to be part of the club’s rebuild.
According to the Daily Mail (22 June), the Magpies may be forced into selling the 25-year-old this summer given his prospective wage demands.
The French winger’s head is said to have been turned by the greater salaries he could earn elsewhere.
Saint-Maximin’s current contract does not expire until 2026.
When asked if he thought a club like Arsenal could attract the forward, McAvennie told Football Insider: “Yes.
“But I don’t think he’d leave.
“You’re looking at Arsenal then you look at Newcastle. Last year it wouldn’t have even been a choice, he would’ve run down to Arsenal.
“At Newcastle, the boys will be seeing something different. With Eddie Howe coming in, the attitude at the whole club will be different. I think he would want to be part of that.
“He’s the one player that I thought, when everything was going terribly for Newcastle, he’s the one player that was the shining light. That’s one player they would want to keep.
“I think for him, he knows there’s going to be all these great players coming in, maybe not for the next few years but they will come.
“He’s young and he has the chance to be part of that. I don’t know if he’d want to go to Arsenal at the moment.”
In other news, a pundit has backed Newcastle United to sign ‘next Luis Diaz’ after latest development.