Soccer Saturday pundit Paul Merson has shared his confusion as to why Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin hasn’t been considered by Manchester United this summer instead of Ajax winger Antony.
The Red Devils have chased the Brazilian wide man throughout the summer and could end up paying near €100million to bring the 22-year-old to Old Trafford.
However, particularly after his stellar display against Manchester City last weekend, Merson has admitted that he “doesn’t get it” in regards to United snubbing the Frenchman when in desperate need of a winger.
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“If I’m Man United I take Saint-Maximin over Antony every day of the week,” the former Arsenal man said on Saturday’s episode of Soccer Saturday. “That’s why I don’t see it.
“What this lad does, I know he don’t score goals, a lot of goals and a lot of assists, but boy does he take that ball up the pitch. I think that might come with scoring goals.
“Newcastle fans won’t want me to say it and I’m sure Newcastle won’t sell him.”
The Soccer Saturday panel were sparked into debate over how good the winger actually is, with Clinton Morrison and Kris Boyd offering opposing views.
When discussing the 3-3 draw against the reigning Premier League champions, Morrison said: I thought the whole team played outstanding, in particular [Allan] Saint-Maximin. It was one of the best [individual performances] of the season for sure. He was unplayable.”
This prompted Boyd to suggest that the 25-year-old must start to add more goals to his game. “For what he’s got, when you’re looking at goals, the first season he came [he scored] three [goals], four assists,” Boyd said. “The second season three goals, four assists. The next season five goals and five assists. So everyone’s going on about this superstar but he’s got to do better.
“His last goal was on the 15th of January against Watford at home and everybody tells us that Newcastle were brilliant in the second half of the season and he’s your talisman. Something doesn’t add up.”
Former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson also added to the debate, stating: “I think now Newcastle, where they are, with Eddie Howe, players they’re bringing in, he has to bring the level of quality up week in week out for him.
“Before January, before they brought players in, he was a superstar. He could do what he wanted. He could turn up one out of four [games], it’s alright, it’s Saint-Maximin. Now, the quality of players, he has to turn up week-in week-out because Newcastle, for me, have gone to the next level.
“Last week he was magnificent. Will he go to a Man United, a Man City? No chance. I think that’s the next level to consistency and that’s why they’re there and if they don’t, like Manchester United, they get criticised. Newcastle are trying to get into that bracket and challenge for top six.”
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