Newcastle have ‘no hope’ of signing international star as agent wont accept offers from ‘second tier teams’

The summer transfer window was a busy one for Newcastle United and the next two windows look like they could also prove frantic for the club’s recruitment staff.

The North East club were able to use their financial muscle to bring in the likes of Sven Botman and Alexander Isak but many other big name players still apparently don’t see them as a viable destination compared to the more established elite clubs across Europe. Eddie Howe’s side currently sit fourth in the Premier League table after a fantastic 2-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday and have also earned points against Manchester United and Manchester City this season. However, one Italian publication says they have ‘no hope’ of signing a top international player from the Serie A as his agent ‘does not accept proposals from second tier teams’.

Italian publication Calcio Style claim that AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan is on the radar of multiple Premier League clubs including Tottenham and Manchester United and the players have ‘always been attracted’ to English Football’s top flight. Newcastle , Brentford and Crystal Palace are the other sides mentioned in the article which expresses the apparent opinion of the Frenchman’s agent Bruno Satin. It says: “Non hanno speranze, l’agente non accetta proposte da squadre di seconda fascia” which translates to “They have no hope, the agent does not accept proposals from second tier teams.”

Maignan, 27, signed for AC Milan in 2021 having previously been with Lille in France’s Ligue 1 and has been a title winner with both. The former PSG youth player has also won five caps for France since 2020 and was part of the side that won the UEFA Nations League in 2021. The keeper is currently out injured at the moment with a calf problem and Romanian stopper Ciprian Tătărușanu has deputised between the sticks for Milan in his absence.

He will be hoping to have recovered in time to make the France squad for the FIFA World Cup finals but will likely have to settle for a place on the bench if he does with Spurs’ Hugo Lloris still very much first choice.