£30 million-rated Newcastle United star makes U-turn on exit talks, believes Champions League will help him

Allan Saint-Maximin has reportedly decided he wants to stay at Newcastle United and fight for his place on the team. The Frenchman had initially been linked to a summer exit to help build up the transfer budget but the Magpies’ Champions League qualification has made him want to stay.

That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim that the forward believes playing in Europe’s highest tier next season will also provide him with a platform to make the step up to the France national team squad. The 26-year-old has featured for the U21s but is yet to earn his first senior cap with Les Bleus.

Newcastle enjoyed the benefits of a stacked forward line this last season, with the likes of Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson and Miguel Almirón all shining respectively. Eddie Howe also brought in Anthony Gordon back in January, further adding to the impressive depth at St James’ Park. As a result of this, Saint-Maximin had limited starts in the league.

The forward, who signed for Newcastle back in 2019 for £16.5 million, has made 124 appearances since his arrival and has contributed 13 goals and 21 assists in that time. His value has also risen to €35 million (£30m), according to Transfermarkt. Saint-Maximin’s current deal runs until 2026, having signed a contract extension during Mike Ashley’s tenure.

Howe and his team will host Champions League nights for the first time in 20 years next season after their stunning run in the Premier League, which saw them finish in fourth-place ahead of Liverpool and just four points behind Manchester United. They are now on the transfer market to bolster their squad and give themselves the best possible chance to continue this run and perform well in Europe.