Tottenham fans can expect a busy end to their already hectic summer transfer window which has seen them sign 6 players including the likes of Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Perisic, and Lenglet. They are reportedly in the market for another centre-back and a creative midfielder. Barcelona’s Memphis Depay, Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo, and Leicester City’s James Maddison have all been heavily linked with Spurs recently.
Another player linked with them is Newcastle’s Allan Saint Maximum. The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder confirmed Spurs’ interest in the Newcastle star a few days ago and now, The Athletic has claimed that Spurs have made contact with the Frenchman to discuss a move.
The French attacker has been in Spurs’ radar since some time now with the club also having sent ‘senior spotters’ to watch him a couple of times including Newcastle vs Crystal Palace recently where Saint Maximum caused havoc for the Palace defenders.
Former Spurs defender Alan Hutton who is now a renowned pundit with BBC has given his verdict on the said reports expressing his shock over the links. He claims he would be ‘surprised’ if Spurs made a move for the Newcastle talisman considering the characteristics of the player, describing him as a ‘maverick’ who would get on the ball and ‘do what he wants’. Speaking with Football Insider, he said:
“Antonio Conte plays a particular way, it’s structured, everybody has to be fit, everybody has to be running and do their bit. Saint-Maximin is a bit of a maverick, he just gets on the ball and does what he wants to do. I don’t think you can get away with that in an Antonio Conte team now.
“£40m for a guy I don’t think they need to I’d be surprised if that did actually happen.“
You can’t help but agree with Alan Hutton here. Allan Saint Maximum is not the player Conte needs right now. The focus needs to be on an attacking midfielder like James Maddison or Nicolo Zaniolo because that is an area that is lacking in Conte’s team right now. An attacking midfielder and another solid centre-back and Spurs are good to go!