Newcastle summer signings conclude with $38m deal for Lewis Hall, thanks to Saint-Maximin sacrifice

NEWCASTLE: Only 10 days remain of the Premier League summer transfer window and it is fair to say it has been a bit of a roller coaster ride for Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe.

The first few weeks, in June and July, were rather barren in terms of new arrivals and tensions began to fray as Howe pushed those at the top, including majority owners the Saudi Public Investment Fund, to help get more deals done.

The opening capture of Sandro Tonali from AC Milan, along with that of Yankuba Minteh from Danish side OB, who was immediately loaned out to Feyenoord, was all the Magpies had to show for their dealings by the time the club jetted off to the US a month ago for the Premier League Summer Series.

Fast forward to mid-August and Newcastle, and Howe, are now closed for business, with transfer dealings complete and five newcomers in all welcomed through the door. The final addition, announced on Tuesday, is Chelsea youngster Lewis Hall, who joins on a loan deal that will be made permanent, for about $38million, if and when some easily attainable performance-related clauses are triggered.

So, what changed in the past few weeks? In short, the sale of prized-asset Allan Saint-Maximin on July 30 to Saudi side Al-Ahli was the main catalyst. It was not a deal Howe wanted to make; he loved the silky unpredictability of “Maxi,” as did the fans.

But in order for the club to progress — and meet the Premier League’s profit and financial sustainability, or financial fair play, rules — it was a necessary sacrifice.

The sale of Saint-Maximin took the Frenchman’s wages off the books, with the full fee added to the balance sheet, which freed up considerable room for the Magpies to sign Harvey Barnes from Leicester City, Tino