Report – Everton snubbed by 22y/o last summer, dazzler joined PL rivals
Everton were interested in signing Allan Saint-Maximin prior to the Frenchman joining Newcastle United at the beginning of the season, according to The Athletic.
The wide man arrived on Tyneside from Ligue 1 side OGC Nice for a fee of around £16.2 million, as per Transfermarkt.
Despite being hampered by a hamstring injury for large parts of the campaign, the 22-year-old has established himself as a fam favourite in the north east, and scored a stunning winner against Oxford United in the FA Cup earlier this week.
But things could have been very different had the Toffees gotten their way in preseason.
Writing in a piece for The Athletic, reliable journalist Chris Waugh said: “Although Newcastle’s head of recruitment Steve Nickson had tracked Saint-Maximin for more than a year, the eventual £18 million transfer from Nice was so swift — in spite of rival interest from Watford, Arsenal and Everton — that it was already completed before the forward had a chance to inform his parents.”
Would Saint-Maximin have been a good signing for Everton?
Almost certainly, yes.
Admittedly, his goal and assist tallies aren’t the most impressive in the country – his injury time strike against Oxford was just his second since arriving on Tyneside.
But there are few, if any, players in the Premier League who can get fans out of their seats and purring with excitement like he can.
The Frenchman has averaged 4.4 successful dribbles per game in the league so far this season, as per Whoscored, and the only players who have managed more are Adama Traore and Wilfried Zaha, both of whom are used to the English game, and both of whom have made at least 10 appearances more than the Newcastle winger.
He is a joy to watch, and one who appears to be finding an end product with greater regularity too.
The Magpies are lucky to have him.
In other Everton news, ‘They are clowns’ – Alex Iwobi lifts lid on Goodison Park pairing.