The future of Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin is likely to be one of the key talking points of this summer transfer window. The Frenchman divides opinion at St. James' Park, but there's no doubting his ability to produce a moment of magic.
Consistency has been one of his downfalls during his black and white tenure, while injuries have also played their part. Last season was no different.
Eddie Howe has spoken on numerous occasions about the 26-year-old's talent and what he can bring to the Magpies, but as the Toon look to take the next step in their evolution, question marks have arisen about his future and whether he suits the new look Newcastle. Saint-Maximin has the X-Factor ability going forward, but there are parts of his game defensively that need improvement.
According to Macro Football, and it should come as no surprise to Newcastle supporters, Saint-Maximin ranks as one of the best dribblers in the top-five leagues in Europe. However, a closer look at certain statistics show why he may be moved on this summer.
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There are clear signs in improvements in his defensive metrics from last season, which can be viewed here, but there's also been a decline in his offensive impact. The Toon wingers is still one of the biggest creative outlets in the Newcastle side, according to the charts.
However, in 25 appearances, he scored just once in the Premier League and registered five assists. If Newcastle are to reach the next level in their development and aim for silverware, they need better final third metrics.
Miggy Almiron's 11 goals and two assists are more like the number the Magpies will need on a consistent basis, if they're to pose a threat to Europe's elite clubs. Saint-Maximin remains a valuable asset for the Toon this summer and if they do sell him, it's likely to be for a considerable fee.
A healthy sale would be needed to help balance the books and comply with FFP regulations and if recent transfer windows are anything to go by, Howe and Dan Ashworth are likely to be looking in the right places. Newcastle still need a creative outlet on the left, regardless of whether Saint-Maximin stays at St. James' Park.
What's been interesting over the course of the season is the players Newcastle have been linked with and how a number of them are similar to Saint-Maximin. Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is among Europe's hottest young talents, fresh from winning the Serie A title with Napoli.
The Georgian winger joined the Italian outfit from Rubin Kazan in the summer of 2022, but his form is already attracting some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Newcastle are one of a number of English sides linked with a move for the 22-year-old and his 96.9 per cent similarity to Saint-Maximin highlight the x-factor ability he could bring to Howe's side.
Napoli are likely to demand a big fee for Kvaratskhelia, who scored 12 goals and registered 13 assists in 34 league games for Luciano Spalletti's side. His numbers are a perfect example of the improvement he would bring to the Toon in the final third.
Another name that's been linked with a move to Newcastle, and has the nearest similarity to Saint-Maximin out of the four players mentioned, is Samuel Chukwueze. The 24-year-old Nigerian is a reported target for AC Milan after scoring six goals and notching five assists with Villareal in La Liga last term.
He has a 99.7 similarity to Saint-Maximin and could be a direct replacement if he were to leave Newcastle this summer. AC Milan's Rafael Leao has a 99.3 per cent similarity to the Magpies winger, but he's just signed a new deal with the Italian outfit to rule out any immediate transfer.
Borussia Dortmund youngster Jamie Bynoe-Gittens would be a more left-field signing, that would take some nurturing by Howe and his staff, but the English youth international is tipped to be the next big star to come off the German conveyor belt of talent. The 18-year-old scored three times this season and grabbed an assist in 15 Bundesliga appearances, in a season that's been plagued by a shoulder injury.
The former Manchester City youngster is at the beginning of his career with the German club, following in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho. It's likely the youngster would be one of the cheaper alternatives, but given his undoubted potential, Dortmund would still want a hefty fee for his services.
A 98.3 per cent similarity to Saint-Maximin shows his quality in the final third, despite his young age. Serbian winger Nemanja Radonjić rounds of the list of potential replacements with a 98.1 per cent similarity.
The Torino winger, who can play on either flank, scored twice and notched two assists in Serie A last season. The 27-year-old's age and product in the final third suggest he's unlikely to be under consideration by Newcastle next season, but valued at just €4million according to transfermarkt means he could be a bargain to bolster the squad ahead of the European campaign next season.
Of course, given the question marks over his defensive work ethic, a direct similarity to Saint-Maximin may not yield the results Eddie Howe wants, but a player of Kvaratskhelia's ilk, for example, would leave plenty to work with and pose an upgrade on the current squad. The Toon will need to wheel and deal their way in the transfer market this season and work behind the scenes is well under way.
