Miguel Almiron attempts a shot against West Ham
Newcastle United ‘might be tempted to consider offers’ for Miguel Almiron this summer, according to Mark Douglas for The I.
The lowdown
The Magpies shelled out a then-club record £20m to sign the Paraguay international from MLS outfit Atlanta United in January 2019. It was the most expensive departure in the league’s history and ranks in the top six on Newcastle’s list of record incomings.
However, the 28-year-old has arguably struggled to live up to that price tag over the past three-and-a-half seasons. It took him 24 matches to register his first goal involvement, and he has only contributed to 19 goals (scored 14, set up five) in his 120 appearances for the club overall.
The Paraguayan’s £42,300-per-week contract runs until the summer of 2024, and he is valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt.
The latest
The I‘s northern football correspondent Douglas has listed some of the players who ‘might go‘ in order to trim an oversized squad and ease any Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns for Newcastle.
The reporter named Almiron as a player for whom the club could be tempted to entertain transfer offers, and while it’s not yet a certainty that thr 28-year-old will be made available, it may be one to keep an eye on.
The verdict
Between 22 January and 10 March, Almiron played just 17 minutes across three appearances, and the outlook at St James’ Park seemed bleak for him.
However, his involvement in Eddie Howe’s team has since increased. Indeed, he has started six of the Magpies’ last eight Premier League matches, scoring the winner against Crystal Palace last month.
That is why some Newcastle supporters might be surprised to read of his potential exit. While his goal contribution record does leave a lot to be desired, the St James’ Park faithful may still be sad to see him go if he is sold.
In the words of Paul Merson, Almiron ‘gives every last drop for the cause’, a trait which is often appreciated by football fans in their clubs’ players.
In other news, Newcastle’s stance on this £15m transfer has now changed.
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