Everton transfer news: Sky Sports pundit in ‘exciting’ reaction after Allan Saint-Maximin approach amid Newcastle exit links
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell believes Allan Saint-Maximin is an “exciting” player who Everton would “covet” to play anywhere across the front line, but doesn’t know if they can afford him.
90min reported on 4 July that Everton were one of the teams who had checked in on the Frenchman’s situation at Newcastle ahead of a possible exit from St. James’ Park, amid links to Saudi Arabia.
Former Toffees captain Campbell is certainly sold on the prospect of the 26-year-old operating at Goodison Park, but, as with everything in this window, he has doubts over the affordability of a deal.
The Sky Sports pundit exclusively told Goodison News: “He’s had his injury problems but he’s an exciting player. He’s a match-winner, a match-winner on his own.
“He suffered a bit at Newcastle because they are just so consistently good last season, but even when he did play he still did well.
“He’s a player who obviously can play anywhere across the front as well, so he could be somebody who Everton might covet to bring in.
“But again it’s going to come down to money because he’s not going to be cheap.”
The Magpies man is the exact sort of player that Everton fans would love to see arrive at the club this summer, especially with Demarai Gray possibly making his own Saudi exit.
But with three years left on his contract he is going to be anything but a bargain, and with Sean Dyche’s transfer budget struggling to accommodate moves for far cheaper players this could be impossible.
Saint-Maximin’s Premier League minutes dropped by nearly 1,700 between the previous two seasons so he does look like he needs a move, and in normal circumstances the door might be open to a loan within the top flight, but amid this year’s Saudi investment drive, and especially with Newcastle Saudi-owned, that ship has surely sailed.
In other Everton news, a costly player that the club are looking to shift has successfully generated transfer interest and the Toffees think a bigger move is now available.