Premier League pressed to explain 'market value' after Newcastle's ASM bid

Stuart Telford

• 22 Jul 2023 11:08 CDT
• 3 min read

Newcastle are set to sell Allan Saint-Maximin to Al-Ahli for €35 million, but some of the Toon's Premier League rivals smell a rat…

Saint-Maximin has been a Magpies crowd favourite, his wing wizardry rather masking an efficient player who has contributed 13 goals and 21 assists since arriving from Nice in an €18m deal in 2019.

According to FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, the Frenchman's value has since risen to €21.3m - which is still some way short of the fee Newcastle will receive from Al-Ahli.

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle star Allan Saint-Maximin eyed by Saudi Arabia

With both clubs at least part-owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Newcastle's Premier League rivals are concerned about the authenticity of ASM's valuation.

"A number of clubs plan to raise concerns with the Premier League regarding the proposed [transfer]," reports The Athletic's David Ornstein.

"They will ask the division to explain how it establishes market value in such situations and… want greater scrutiny and transparency around the process."

READ: Newcastle’s 10 best transfers of all time

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has previously admitted the club were cashing in on Saint-Maximin due to FFP, with the club working to sign Leicester's Harvey Barnes as his replacement.

Howe's concession

"With Financial Fair Play you have to trade," he said. "For us we were stuck in a position where we could not trade players the other way.

"That's how FFP works. We understand that. Maxi is a top player and we definitely don't want to lose him; we want to strengthen the group. Sometimes these things happen and we have to accept that."

If Al-Ahli were UEFA-affiliated, his transfer wouldn't be possible due to new rules governing multi-club ownership.

But Al-Ahli will now have a formidable front three next season, with Saint-Maximin to be joined by Liverpool legend Roberto Fimino and Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez in Saudi Arabia.