Allan Saint-Maximin set for unusual transfer - but there's a catch Newcastle fans will recognise
Another move is on the cards for former Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin
Former Newcastle United star Allan Saint-Maximin looks like he could be on the move for the third time since leaving St James' Park in the summer of 2023. The one-time Magpies favourite left Tyneside for Saudi side Al-Ahli - for a fee of around £23m - but lasted just one full season with the Middle East outfit before being loaned to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Saint-Maximin was seen by Jose Mourinho as the ideal flair player his side needed to beat Galatasaray to the Super Lig title but things haven't gone to plan in the last six months, with the club six points adrift of their arch-rivals. Now, reports suggest the 'Special One' is eyeing a move for Barcelona exile Ansu Fati until the end of the campaign.
As such, Saint-Maximin's loan is expected to be cut short with his future up in the air. A return to Al-Ahli is possible but the Public Investment Fund-owned club would first have to lose a foreign player or re-register one of their current squad members to make room for the Frenchman's return.
Instead, multiple reports suggest Antonio Conte's Napoli are eyeing a late move for Saint-Maximin's services before the end of the winter window - a transfer that would prove fascinating.
Saint-Maximin's strongest qualities lie with the ball at his feet, as Newcastle fans know, while former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Conte is renowned for wanting his attacking players to be as hard-working off the ball, as they are talented with it.
The Italian thought he would encounter that type of problem with Chelsea's prized asset, Eden Hazard, during his stint at Stamford Bridge but succeeded in turning the luxury left-winger into a hard-working, defensive asset during his time in west London.
"The most important thing I am seeing is that Eden is fantastic with the ball, but he is fantastic without the ball, too. He is working very hard for the team," Conte said of the Belgian in 2016. "When the team-mates see the strikers with this type of commitment - when they don't have the ball - I am satisfied, pleased and I hope for it to continue."
Saint-Maximin is said to be the highest-paid player in Mourinho’s side, with Fenerbahce paying €4.5m [£3.8m] and Al-Ahli covering the remaining €2.5m [£2m] of his total €7m-a-year [£5.9m] salary.
Newcastle have not looked back since selling the flyer 18 months ago, replacing the wide man with Harvey Barnes. Plenty of critics have pointed to the fact the Magpies could have held out for more from Al-Ahli at the time, with Saudi sides continuing to pay astronomical amounts for Premier League talent.