Here are the latest Newcastle United headlines for Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
Sandro Tonali pricetag
Newcastle United are pushing hard to make a transfer breakthrough ahead of the Magpies' return to pre-season training in July. Yesterday's enquiry - via an intermediary - on AC Milan's Sandro Tonali was a show of the determination from Eddie Howe and his backroom team to get a deal done. As reported here on Chronicle Live, Newcastle are being hit with a wave of inflated quotes on certain targets including Leicester City's James Maddison.
However, as Newcastle chiefs are finding the bumped up transfer valuations are across the board on the circuit with Arsenal's attempts to sign Declan Rice hitting a brickwall after two bids before being told they must shell out £120million for the England stars services. Newcastle are understood to have enquired about a £50million bid for Tonali as they look to secure a defensive midfielder.
FULL STORY FROM LEE RYDER HERE
Saint-Maximin future
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe wants Allan Saint-Maximin to stay on Tyneside - despite uncertainty about his future. Saint-Maximin endured a tough season last term after being affected by injury in the first part of the season. By the time he returned he could not break into Howe's starting line-up, and accepted that he could not simply expect to walk back into the team.
With those injuries behind him though, Howe still rates Saint-Maximin highly and has him earmarked for a role in his team next season. Newcastle's Champions League nights could offer the French winger the ideal chance to show what he can do on the big stage.
Saint-Maximin, who won Chronicle Live's player of the season in both 2020 and 2021, posted a message on his Instagram that suggested his career had reached a turning point. But Howe is looking forward to the winger returning to training.
