Newcastle United will return to the Champions League next season, but one player could be counted off that list.
Saudi Arabia has been a popular destination all summer with players and managers alike taking up the big offers and are willing to play in the league as it looks to make its mark amongst the world. Some speculate it could be similar to what happened in China a few years back or even USA with the MLS where players who would want one more payday would head over to America.
However, with the Saudi Arabian moves, there have been players who seem to be young enough to carry on playing in Europe. Players such as Ruben Neves and Jota have made the move over to Saudi Arabia.
It looks like another Premier League player is about to make the move when it looks like he still has plenty to over in Europe.
Newcastle United player set to join Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal have shown an interest in Newcastle wingerAllan Saint-Maximin and he is expected to join in the coming days. Al-Hilal have made an offer of £25 million for the pacey man who is electric and raw.
The Newcastle man has fallen out of favour with manager Eddie Howe and a departure seemed likely anyway this summer. However, not many expected a move to Saudi Arabia as Newcastle look to alleviate some of the FFP issues they face.
Is the time right for Saint-Maximin to leave Europe’s top leagues?
There is no doubting that Saint-Maximin is talented and he made mince meat of the Premier League when he first joined Newcastle.
Having joined from Nice, where again he showed a lot of promise, he was held in huge regard across Europe. At just 26 years old he is ready to take a payday in Saudi though.
It is hard to see where the Saudi league will go from here. With obvious issues with human rights and moralistic issues about taking money from a regime with some views that Westerners do not agree with, it has created another argument about sports washing.
However, players heading to the Saudi league might be the best thing for trying to change some views and allow them to be in the conversation about how culture could be….or it could just be players wanting huge wages! It is yet to be seen where this Saudi project goes.