Allan Saint-Maximin: Newcastle want to sign Europe’s second-most prolific dribbler

Steve Bruce has admitted Nice winger Allan Saint-Maximin is among “three or four” potential targets Newcastle United are looking to secure before the close of the summer transfer window.

Despite the recent departure of Rafael Benitez in the St James’ Park dugout, the Magpies once again broke their transfer record this week with the £40m signing of Brazilian forward Joelinton from Hoffenheim.

Saint-Maximin to Newcastle? Five key things to know…

• Newcastle broke their transfer record again this week with the signing of Joelinton (£40m).
• But the Magpies have already lost the likes of Ayoze Perez and Salamon Rondon from last term.
• As a result, Steve Bruce has claimed he wants another “three or four” players this summer.
• Nice winger Saint-Maximin is said to be the Magpies’ next target.
• And Bruce has admitted the club’s interest in the Frenchman.

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And Bruce – Benitez’s replacement – says Newcastle aren’t done there, with the club looking to bring in another “three or four” players after losing stars such as Ayoze Perez.

“We have lost about six players, I’m not saying we will get six in but the crucial thing is that they are at the right quality,” he told reporters at his first press conference as Newcastle manager.

“We are at the stage now that can you get the quality that takes you forward. Ideally, we would like another three or four but numbers I can’t really put on it because one or two always fall away. But we will do our utmost.”

Reports suggest that Saint-Maximin – who completed the second-highest number of dribbles (143) in Europe’s top five leagues last season (more than Lionel Messi and Eden Hazard) – is the latest player in Newcastle’s crosshairs and that Nice have dropped their asking price from €40m to €25m.

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And while Bruce has stressed that a deal is far from completion, he has admitted Saint-Maximin, 22, is on his radar.

“I don’t think it’s on the verge of happening but it’s somebody we have looked at, it’s somebody we have identified and we will see what happens,” he said.

Newcastle’s pre-season preparations continue on Saturday when they travel to Preston North End, having beaten West Ham United 1-0 in their previous match.