Ashworth set to make £8.5m Newcastle bid for "huge talent", just imagine him & ASM - opinion

A big update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Alan Virginius in the summer transfer window… 

According to Le10Sport, the Magpies are set to make an offer worth up to €10m (£8.5m) as Dan Ashworth looks to sign the winger ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report does not, however, state whether or not that will be enough to tempt Sochaux into cashing in on their asset.

It is also claimed that Bayer Leverkusen are in the race for his signature and look set to challenge the Toon in a straight shootout to land the attacker.

By snapping up a deal for the teenager this summer, Newcastle can land an exciting duo by pairing him with his fellow countryman on the wings next season.

Jacek Kulig once dubbed him a “huge talent” and his statistics at such a young age back up that comment. The 19-year-old caught the eye in the Sochaux first-team last season with five goals and one assist in seven Ligue 2 starts – as well as creating three big chances for his teammates.

This came after he managed three goals and two assists in 15 league outings – starting four games – during his breakthrough campaign in 2020/21. The gem has, therefore, racked up an outstanding 11 direct goal contributions in 11 starts for Sochaux’s senior side.

He has also impressed at international level, with six goals in 16 youth team appearances for France, including three goals in two games at the U19 European Championships this summer.

These statistics suggest that he is a player with huge potential as he is already making big strides in the game despite still being in his teens.

Saint-Maximin, meanwhile, is a proven Premier League winger who scored five goals and set up another five in the top-flight last term. He averaged an excellent SofaScore