Allan Saint-Maximin on the verge of leaving Newcastle as Eddie Howe confirms talks with Saudi Arabia

Saint-Maximin is close to signing with Saudi club Al Ahly. hli for around £30m and the French winger is keen to move.

Talks have been underway for days and the deal should be finalized soon, the funds should lead to a breakthrough in Newcastle's pursuit of Leicester City's Harvey Barnes, according to Telegraph Sport last week. The England international is scheduled to be at Tyneside this week for a medical checkup.

Saint-Maximin will not travel with the rest of the Newcastle squad for the US pre-season training tour and has said goodbye to teammates and staff.

The impending departure of one of the Premier League's most interesting players and a crowd favorite at Tyneside, who was vital to the team's retention in the top flight under former manager Steve Bruce, drew an emotional tribute from Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.

Newcastle have finally secured £40m. Harvey Barnes

Newcastle would like to keep the player, but needed to sell someone to help them comply with Financial Fairplay rules.

«It's hard for me to comment on what Allan wants,» Howe said after his team's 2-1 friendly victory over Rangers at Ibrox.

«I have a lot of respect for him. I know that he feels the same about the football club as I do. There are no problems between us.

“We had a really healthy relationship from day one. Sometimes something has to happen for a club to grow and Allan to experience something different.

“You can't replace him with a similar type because there is no one like him. «I don't think there is a performance issue.

— You say industrious. But in his own way, he is really committed to what we asked him to do. Last season was difficult for him, he had a couple of injuries, so I don't think we saw the best of him. The Man City game was Maxi for us on a regular basis. Nobody doubts his talent.”

“Allan is a unique player. I am sure that I will never train someone like him again. I'm talking about the player, he can do what no one else can. «And he gives us a completely different dimension, he is someone we don't want to lose.»

St. Maximin was also offered by clubs across Europe this summer by agents, but instead opted to secure a lucrative move to a revitalized Saudi professional league.

Bournemouth looking to sign Newcastle second goalkeeper

Mike McGrath

Bournemouth are in talks with Karl Darlow to move from Newcastle United and strengthen Andoni Irao's goalkeeping team ly for next season.

Newcastle goalkeeper Carl Darlow is linked with a move to Bournemouth. United, who are still looking at him as a championship option.

But Bournemouth have taken the first steps towards a deal that would see Darlow compete against Neto for the No. 1 jersey under Iraola. He has two seasons left on his current Newcastle contract and Nick Pope is firmly established as No. 1 under Eddie Howe.

Darlow has been No. 1 at Newcastle for nearly a decade in the North East since arriving from Nottingham Forest in 2014. retained his spot as first choice for most of the season. He was loaned out to Hull City in the Championship last season, but this summer there was interest in him in the Premier League as well.

«I've enjoyed working with Carl, he's an outstanding goalkeeper, but the price Newcastle are talking about is something we can't talk about this summer,» Hull boss Liam Rosenior recently said. Dieng from Queens Park Rangers last week.