Charlotte FC has recently initiated negotiations to sign the 29-year-old French winger Allan Saint-Maximin. The MLS club intends to make him their 'designated player', a status that permits a salary exceeding the league's cap, to replace Wilfried Zaha. Saint-Maximin is reportedly highly sought after, and at his current club, RC Lens, sporting director Jean-Louis Leca has expressed a desire to extend his contract. While American sources indicate that an agreement for his signature is near, sources from Lens do not currently corroborate this information. Saint-Maximin joined the French club in February 2026, and his contract expires on June 30, 2026. His market value is estimated by Transfermarkt to be €10.00m, and Venezia has also been linked with the player.