Sources: Allan Saint-Maximin agrees £23m Newcastle United move, Eddie Howe reluctantly accepts
Newcastle United star Allan Saint-Maximin has agreed the terms of a £23million move to Saudi club Al-Ahli, sources have told Football Insider.
The 26-year-old will become the latest Premier League big name to opt for the riches of the Middle East after verbally accepting what is said to be a “huge” offer.
The imminent move has been agreed by the Newcastle hierarchy, who have secured a replacement in Harvey Barnes, who has already put pen to paper on a permanent contract with the club and will be announced very shortly.
Eddie Howe was not overly convinced that selling Saint-Maximin was the right thing to do, but FFP constraints have forced the club to sell so they can bring in their own top targets.
Al-Ahli will finish the final details of their deal for Manchester City superstar Riyad Mahrez before completing the signing of Saint-Maximin.
Newcastle will receive around £23m for Saint-Maximin and will also free up the wage space as they look to add another signing after Barnes is officially announced.
Al-Ahli have already added Roberto Firmino and Edouard Mendy this summer as they build a squad capable of bringing the league into the eyes of the world.
Newcastle are also in the market for a defender and Crystal Palace centre-back Joachim Andersen is a player admired by the recruitment team.
Saint-Maximin played 124 times for Newcastle, scoring 13 goals and grabbing 21 assists for the club. He has also been capped seven times at Under-21s level by France.
In other news, Newcastle set to sign Harvey Barnes in £38 million pound deal