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Saint-Maximin’s departure will allow more Newcastle additions this summer

There aren’t many players who had as great an impact on the pre-takeover iteration than Allan Saint-Maximin, and even fewer whose was as positive.

But times have moved on and, as the French winger prepares to move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, his exit feels timely and necessary. The decision to sell Saint-Maximin has caused a stir both from outside the club and among the fan base. Criticism will be unavoidable because both Newcastle and Al-Ahli are majority owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, but with the deal reportedly worth £30m, it is hard to make the case that it exceeds typical market value for somebody as talented, flamboyant and, at times at least, as decisive as Saint-Maximin.

The majority of fans are sad to see him leave, but some are vehemently against the idea of saying goodbye to him. It is easy to see why; he was so often a beacon of hope under Steve Bruce, the former manager, who often used him as an entire tactical blueprint. His pace, trickery and effervescence brought plenty of great moments which will be remembered fondly. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say he brought joy to what, at the time under Bruce and Mike Ashley, was a pretty soulless and aimless institution, nor would it be to say he saved Newcastle from relegation on more than one occasion.

But that’s just it. Newcastle aren’t soulless or aimless anymore; they are very much on a trajectory that promises unprecedented success. To be on that journey, particularly as prominently as Saint-Maximin was before and wants to be now, requires hard work, intensity and consistency. Those are three words that even the most fervent supporter of Saint-Maximin could use to describe him.

Eddie Howe, the current manager, has an in-depth plan and identity for his team; where Bruce was willing to forgo detail in order to rely on his maverick winger, Howe has had to reign him in and train him up. There has been an improvement in the defensive side of Saint-Maximin’s game over time, but perhaps at the behest of what makes him special: his unpredictability. Howe has publicly said he loves Saint-Maximin, but the pair have always had a clash of styles that meant a split was coming one day. That is before factoring in Saint-Maximin’s injury record; he started just 12 Premier League games last season. Newcastle returned to the Champions League, which long felt like the stage on which he belonged, with him largely on the periphery.

But all of this doesn’t really tell the full story behind his exit. It is needed for reasons not directly in Newcastle’s control. Financial Fair Play regulations have, for the first time since the takeover, become a serious consideration this summer.

After spending north of £200m over three transfer windows, the lack of revenue streams and money from player sales has begun to bite. On the pitch, Newcastle have competed with Manchester United and bettered Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham, but off it, they are worlds away.

Saint-Maximin is the one asset Newcastle have who can unlock the FFP log jam with a sizeable fee because of the way deals are recorded in the books, without losing a vital cog in their machine. His departure will allow further additions, including that of Harvey Barnes. The Leicester winger, 25, is a more suitable replacement for Howe’s approach, much more direct with a better end product. In the past four Premier League seasons, Saint-Maximin registered 30 goals and assists. Barnes has that total in the last two campaigns and a further 17 over the same period.

He is also more direct. At his best, Saint-Maximin was one of the game’s most expressive and entertaining players, but his worst critics would suggest he prioritised beating his man than creating an opportunity. That, though, seems a harsh belief to hold.

Elsewhere in the team, defence can be strengthened. Defensive reinforcements are wanted at centre back and fullback, but a deal for Southampton’s Tino Livramento is not thought to be close with both clubs still some way away on valuation.

But whatever happens, Saint-Maximin should be lauded as a player who maintained Newcastle’s level at the tome when it was most in jeopardy, and his exit is allowing the club to move forward. He played his part brilliantly, and deserves nothing but respect, even if now is the right time to part.