According to the Mirror’s Simon Bird, Newcastle are now ‘close’ to sealing a £17m deal for Nice winger Allan Saint-Maximin.
The North-East reporter’s latest piece on all things NUFC states that ‘Bruce is close to landing Nice forward for £17m’, suggesting the two clubs may now have reached a compromise when it comes to a price.
It’s hard to know given this transfer saga has dragged on for some time now – despite some outlets saying the deal was almost done this time last week – however the £17m claim suggests the two clubs may well have met in the middle on a fee.
It was initially reported that Nice valued him at £20m. We then had a cheeky £14m bid knocked bad and are said to have followed up with a £16m bid after Nice lowered their demands to £18m.
Now, a few days on from those French reports, it’s being stated in the Mirror that we’re close to sealing a £17m – suggesting a compromise has been met given our last ‘bid’ was £16m and their most recent asking price was deemed to be £18m.
Let’s hope this deal really is on the way to being completed.
All the noises are that it’s there to be done, with the player allegedly keen to sign and Mark Douglas stating just a few days ago that he ‘should’ sign by Saturday’, however it’s never done until it’s done when we have Lee Charnley and Mike Ashley calling the shots!
It was also claimed that N’Soki was keen to sign until he found out what we were offering.
Robert Gilmore(Quote)
Judging from the reports of tonight’s good win at Hibs, (3-1) it seems to say that we need a good fast winger who can get the ball into the box and Joelinton will convert them into goals.
On top of that should either Carrol, Austin or Welbeck comes on board we certainly require somebody who can deliver a good high ball for them to get their head to. It would be pointless having a 6’4″ striker if we cannot get the ball to him.
All said, it was a great win tonight against a team who hadn’t lost in any of their preseason games.
Brian Hall(Quote)