Roma ‘mull swoop for star ASM’

JOSE Mourinho could look to make Newcastle star Allan SaintMaximin one of his first signings at Roma.

The Portuguese is set to take charge of the Giallorossi in the summer and reports in Italy say that he could test the Magpies’ resolve with a £40 million bid.

United head coach Steve Bruce recently said he has no desire to sell the talismanic Frenchman, who has dazzled supporters with his skills and has claimed he is very happy in the North East.

United signed Saint-Maximin from Nice in the summer of 2019 for a fee of around £16.5 million, scoring seven goals in 54 games for the Magpies.

Saint-Maximin has been a revelation for Newcastle since signing from Nice two years ago but has struggled with injury issues across that time.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are also monitoring forward Tyler Roberts’ situation at Leeds.

That is according to the Daily Mail, which claims that despite Marcelo Bielsa being a big fan of the Welsh international, the 22-year-old is keen to become a more regular starter.

The report suggests Newcastle are ‘keeping an eye on the situation’ with Bruce keen to add to his British contingent at the club.

Roberts has made 26 first team appearances without finding the net for Leeds this season but after reportedly scouting him, Newcastle feel the former West Brom forward could still improve.

Newcastle have also been linked with Southampton full-back Yan Valery but could face competition for his signature from Marseille and Borussia Monchengladbach.

The 22-year-old struggled for game-time with the Saints this term and has spent the second half of the season on loan at Birmingham City in the Championship.

Valery is believed to be keen on a return to France but Newcastle and Gladbach are ‘watching his situation closely’.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have taken the decision not to sign Schalke defender Ozan Kabak on a permanent deal.

The Turkey international, 21, has impressed at centre-half for the Reds since joining in January to aid their defensive crisis at a time when United were reported to have been watching the defender.

But the deposed champions won’t be activating their option to buy him for £18 million which has put Premier League clubs on red alert.