Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Newcastle United rumours: Toon enquire after exit-bound PL talent, Swoop plotted for 17-goal free agent

Newcastle United fans will be desperate to hang on to Allan Saint-Maximin this summer.

The Frenchman has established himself as a fan favourite with the Toon Army since arriving at the club, and his impact on Steve Bruce’s side once he returned from injury last term was clear to see.

But former Magpies winger John Barnes has urged him to exercise caution before rushing into a high profile exit in the future.

"He’s been fantastic for Newcastle,” Barnes told BettingOdds.com. “He’s been incredible for Newcastle. His return from injury really helped them at the back end of the season, and got them out of a bad situation.

“I’m pleased for the fans, and I’m pleased for Steve Bruce, because under difficult circumstances when the harmony wasn’t right because of the relationship the fans have with the owner, I think they did well to stay up.

"There was a lot of negativity surrounding the whole situation, and they did well to come out of that, and Saint-Maximin had a big part to play in that.

“He has to choose his club, and Newcastle is the right club for him, because they give him the ball and say ‘do what you want’, and he won’t be able to do that at a big club, he will have to play in a system.

“He can do what he wants, dribble when he wants – and they won’t criticise him. He won’t be able to do that at a bigger club, so I can’t see him going to one of the ‘big six’.”

We’ve gathered the best of today’s Premier League transfer speculation below...