Napoli are making a final push to secure Allan Saint-Maximin on loan from Al-Ahli, as their pursuit of Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho has ended unsuccessfully. The Italian club is working against the clock to finalize the deal for the French winger, who is currently on loan at Fenerbahçe.
Corriere dello Sport report how, with dreams of signing Garnacho and Karim Adeyemi fading, and paths to Noa Lang and Federico Chiesa blocked, Napoli’s sporting director Manna has turned to Saint-Maximin as a short-term solution to replace the departed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The 27-year-old Frenchman, who will turn 28 in March, offers a wealth of experience in a diverse career spanning the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Premier League, Saudi Pro League, and Turkish Süper Lig.
The deal, valued at around €4 million, hinges on complex bureaucratic procedures. Al-Ahli must terminate Saint-Maximin’s loan with Fenerbahçe and then loan him to Napoli. This process is complicated by the Saudi transfer window’s closure, but Al-Ahli has assured Napoli they can obtain a special dispensation based on precedent.
Saint-Maximin, known for his dribbling skills and pace, is expected to provide Napoli with impact off the bench and offer alternatives to Neres and Politano. In Turkey, he has made 16 league appearances, scoring 3 goals and providing 3 assists.
Napoli’s initial targets proved unattainable due to inflated prices following Kvaratskhelia’s €70 million sale to PSG. Manchester United’s €55 million valuation of Garnacho, coupled with high salary demands, made the deal unfeasible. Attempts to sign Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund and Lang from PSV also fell through.
