Hutton issues 'blunt' Allan Saint-Maximin verdict after journalist's Tottenham transfer update
Alan Hutton has insisted Tottenham should not pay £40million for Allan Saint-Maximin.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Spurs right-back does not believe that the 25-year-old will fit into Antonio Conte's style of play.
According to Chris Waugh of The Athletic (19 July), the Lilywhites have made enquiries about the forward.
However, the £40m price tag Newcastle have placed on the former France youth international is said to have put off Spurs and other potential suitors, including Chelsea.
Saint-Maximin currently has four years left on his contract at St James' Park.
The winger joined Newcastle from OGC Nice in 2019 for a fee of around £16million.
When asked if he thought Tottenham would be willing to meet the Magpies' valuation, Hutton told Football Insider: "I don’t think they need him to be quite blunt about it.
"I watched them against Rangers, their front three are excellent. They had Richarlison on the bench, they have Lucas Moura, they’ve got options there.
"Antonio Conte plays a particular way, it’s structured, everybody has to be fit, everybody has to be running and do their bit. Saint-Maximin is a bit of a maverick, he just gets on the ball and does what he wants to do. I don’t think you can get away with that in an Antonio Conte team now.
"£40m for a guy I don’t think they need to I’d be surprised if that did actually happen."