Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has confirmed that Allan Saint-Maximin is in talks about leaving the club.
Speaking after Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Rangers in a pre-season friendly that Saint-Maximin missed, Howe said the reason for the winger possibly leaving was Financial Fair Play (FFP), the rules that govern how much a club can spend.
While the 26-year-old has officially been named in the Magpies' squad for the Premier League Summer Series in the USA, where Newcastle will face Aston Villa, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion, it is likely that he will miss the trip.
See: Summer Series squads announced
"He's in early discussions over a potential move away,” Howe said. “That's why he wasn't here [at Rangers].
"It's doubtful he'll join us on the tour of America. I don't think Maxi necessarily wants to leave, but he may feel it's the right time for him to move.
"It's difficult for me to speak for him, but he hasn't asked to leave. There's been no issue between him and any of us coaches. We all love him.
"If he does leave, we'd lose him with a very heavy heart. He's someone we love working with. He's a difference-maker. We've really had a strong working relationship, and it'll be sad if he leaves."
Howe has made one major signing this summer, with the arrival of midfielder Sandro Tonali from AC Milan. In his first appearance for the club last night, Tonali helped to set up the opening goal at Ibrox for Miguel Almiron.
Miggy off the mark! 🇵🇾 pic.twitter.com/TTHjjaR5L8
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 19, 2023
The situation with Saint-Maximin has come about due to Newcastle's activity in previous transfer windows, and the cost of the signings who have helped to end the club's 20-year exile from the UEFA Champions League.
"Maxi is the player that's generating the interest," Howe added. "FFP is a new dynamic which really came to the fore after my first window here when we knew it would impact us.
"Player trading is a key part of it - you can't [meet FFP requirements] if you don't trade. We're forced to trade a player this window.
"If the deal didn't go through, I'd be delighted. It would obviously impact our ability to bring any more players in, and then we potentially might have to sell another player. That's the way that Financial Fair Play has hit us."
In last night's friendly, after Almiron’s early opener, Rangers equalised through Sam Lammers but Harrison Ashby’s first goal for the club claimed an opening win.
