EVERTON are targeting a summer swoop for Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin.
Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti had the 22- year old Frenchman watched as he starred in Newcastle United’s midweek 3 – 2 FA Cup win over West Brom.
Everton are plotting a swoop for Newcastle star Allan Saint-MaximinCredit: Alamy Live News
Saint-Maximin arrived in Toon from Nice on a £16.5m deal that includes add-ons worth a potential further £3.5 — but he will now likely be worth up to £30m.
They face competition from Crystal Palace — who see Saint-Maximin as a replacement for £75m-rated Wilfried Zaha with his departure seemingly imminent.
Zaha asked for a transfer and fully expects to move on at the end of the season with the Gunners still interested with Bayern Munich also lining up an offer.
Ancelotti’s interest in the Toon ace also signals the end of any interest in Zaha.
Everton, under previous boss Marco Silva, had two bids turned down for him last summer and Palace also rejected a move from Arsenal.
Ancelotti knows he has to be careful with his spending due to FFP concerns at Goodison and the English star would cost too much.
Saint-Maximin would offer much better value as Ancelotti looks ahead to a major re-structuring of his squad.
But he will have only a limited budget unless he sells top front men Richarlison and Dominic Calvert- Lewin who last week signed a new five-year deal.
Saint-Maximum insists he is “happy” at St. James’ despite rumour of a bust – up with boss Steve Bruce – but would be bound to be interested in a huge rise on his current £40,000 a week salary.
Everton’s focus over the final weeks of the season will be on trying to secure European football.
After drawing with Manchester United last weekend, Everton face another important test against Ancelotti’s former club Chelsea.
He admitted: “We are not a top team yet. I think the spine of the team is good. We have a mix of young players and experienced players. We can improve, we can be at the top.
“That is our dream. We can be at the top soon, as soon as possible. I’m sure that it’s not going to take a long time for this.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
