According to Malcolm Macdonald, Manchester United could make a move for Allan Saint-Maximin if the Newcastle United forward “rips them apart to pieces” when the two sides next meet in the Premier League.
The English giants have been linked with a move for Saint-Maximin in the past and Macdonald, who is Newcastle’s fifth-highest scorer of all time, fears that they could come back for him in the January transfer window. The two sides go head to head this weekend, as the Premier League resumes, following the international break.
Saint-Maximin: A Lone Wolf For Newcastle United
Since joining Newcastle United last summer, Allan Saint-Maximin has been a huge asset for Newcastle United. He has, in fact, been a lone spark for the NUFC attack at times, providing the flair and dynamism in the final third.
Indeed, the Frenchman’s devastating pace, combined with his sizzling quick-feet have made life difficult for the Premier League defenders. He averaged an astonishing 4.7 successful dribbles per game, a tally only bettered by Wolves’ Adama Traore (5) in the league.
However, one of the most key aspects in Saint-Maximin’s game last season was his productivity. He was involved in a total of eight goals, which is quite impressive given the fact that Newcastle United as a whole managed just 38 for the campaign. It is also fair to point out that the Frenchman missed a total of 12 league matches.
This season, the ex-Hannover 96 star has been in a similar run of form, notably starring in the win over Burnley despite returning from an injury. He is someone worth looking forward to as NUFC host Man United this coming weekend.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored.
How Does Saint-Maximin Fit In At United?
At Manchester United, Saint-Maximin could be an interesting addition as the club already have some top quality wingers like Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford while the addition of Edinson Cavani might force Anthony Martial to feature in a wider role.
So one could argue that the NUFC star might find it difficult to establish himself in the starting lineup. While that may be true to an extent, the Frenchman can offer Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer some much-needed tactical versatility.
The 23-year-old can operate anywhere across the final third including the central areas of the pitch. He also likes to drift inside when operating in a wider role, which should open up countless tactical possibilities for Ole.
Besides, after missing out Jadon Sancho, Saint-Maximin could be a capable alternative, especially given the fact that he does have Premier League experience to his belt and shouldn’t take much time settling in at Old Trafford.
