Miguel Almiron is “keen” on a January switch to the Premier League – and is choosing between Newcastle United and West Ham .
The Paraguayan No10 will cost around £25m and is likely to leave MLS side Atlanta in the New Year.
The 24-year-old’s agent has also listened to offers from Arsenal and Spurs but would face a tough battle to get into their teams.
Newcastle have sent their chief scout Steve Nicksen to the US to get the details of the deal – and Rafa Benitez raised hopes yesterday by admitting there are getting closer to having a deal lined up, without hinting at which player.
Asked if he was ready to “strike early” in January, Benitez said: “Yes I thinks so. If you identify the player and say this one, that’s it. We are close. But we will see what happens.”
“We have to find the right players. Believe me, the right players and after we can start to work on that. It doesn’t matter if we say we have this or that. The way it works is: we want this one… ok, go. Then we work on what is it.
"I receive phone calls from agents all the time. They give you names. I talk with Steve in the scouting department. Then I give names and he works on that and we see the reports. Then we decide this is the player: GO.”
Asked if he was ready to break Newcastle’s £17m transfer record spent on Michael Owen, Benitez said: “I have no idea. We have to find the right players. Sometimes it is not about the money. Just the right players at the right time.”
Fishyfloppttv
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he should join spurs or arsenal
Wikinprst
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I'm a Toon fan that lives in Atlanta... Love this kid, but I personally don't think Almiron would equate to a good prem league player... However, he'd probably thrive in Italian, Spanish, or French leagues
French league is almost the MLS without Neymar and Embape. 😂 💩
Wikinprst
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I feel like he might struggle in the premier league because of his physicality. He seems a bit too weak for the premier league
Lol 😂 you talky think 🤔 that the MLS is a Mickie mouse league??? this league is very, physical too. 😁
Wikinprst
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Grreeeaaattttt player and I think 🤔 he's worth more than that., New Newcastle is a right team for him to jump at MC, MY and Chelsea. 😂
Aymeneaymen
1
good
Randoothem
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£25m? Give over. Mike Ashley.
memoria
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For that kind of price he'd better be an upgrade over Perez.
hoisted
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Dont think Ashley would give the money for this but I was be all for it until I saw this reference that Benitez wants him to improve the wingers. Yes, it would be nice to get better at the position but it feels like Ive been asking for a proper no.10 instead of Perez for a year now and he seems like he is one.
possiblen
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I feel like he might struggle in the premier league because of his physicality. He seems a bit too weak for the premier league
Cooper5
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The pretend we are trying starts early this year.
Carolme
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If Newcastle had a normal owner this would be a plausible transfer for a good young player with potential. But under Ashley like someone else said, I'll have to see it to believe it.
LovePSG
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Getting Almiron would be ideal IMO. Not that Ashley would ever put up the money. On the flipside, if he does, it could get Rafa to stay.
Williamskeller
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Also valued at £25 million apparently, don't see Fatty splashing that unfortunately.
okanbill
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I’ll believe it when I see it. This kid is exceptional. He’d be as pure of an attacking midfield talent as we’ve seen in years.
koalaal
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Feel like it's gonna be one of those windows where Ashley claims that he tried to sign players. In reality he knows he's never going to accept a 30mil price tag, he's just doing it to claim to Rafa that he tried to spend money. Even if that's not true, I'm sure that $30 mil could be better spent on more proven European players. Not that I'm knocking the kid, it's just very rarely do US stars workout in Europe, let alone the premier league... It's a lot of money for what is essentially a gamble.
Veravere
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hahahahahaha. season ticket renewal time press stories happening daily.
Jeremye
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As far as I can tell the highest fee in or out of the MLS us $11m. Are we really going to triple the league's record?
Charlescolin
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Seems a bit crazy to have Ashley bust the transfer record on this guy, but he's been lighting up MLS for the past two seasons and should do well in the Premier League if he isn't roughed up too much.
limited
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steve nickson probably even paid for his own flight. Mike Ashley (MA): hey. could you fly to Atlanta just to create some rumours that i still care for Newcastle. Steve Nickson (SN): sure boss. just booked the flight for $x MA: Whaaaaat?! that's way too expensive. could you get there by boat? SN: ..........
Lidroids
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As doubtful as I am, it won't be that much more than the £20-mil we supposedly offered for that Alassane Pléa lad. Another 4 or 5 million? The Newcastle fan part of me (blindly hopeful) likes to believe the people at the club understand how much we'd all like to see some sort of marquee signing and for that amount of money it'd probably tick that box for a lot of people purely on numbers alone.
rockermang
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I'm a Toon fan that lives in Atlanta... Love this kid, but I personally don't think Almiron would equate to a good prem league player... However, he'd probably thrive in Italian, Spanish, or French leagues
hoverday
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Loving the enthusiasm in this thread. Can't say I disagree, mind...
Disneyy
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Well Almiron linked up well with a Venezuelan Striker at Atlanta... we got one of those
kooq
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Won’t happen. We will haggle on the price at just a few million under - this will go on for a while - then a proper club run normally will come in and just buy him for the asking price. Either West Ham or Everton.
Brightonen
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Cheeky loan if anything at all
Yamahai
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If we're gonna spend then he might as well grab Josef Martinez too, while hes there. Just dont tell Ashley about the money part.
Ironkings
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How has he gone from £11m to £25m
Martabeed
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Can’t imagine mike Ashley agreeing to spend that kind of money but would be a great signing for Newcastle
Charlesgarrett
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the asking price is set at £25 million. So it's not happening then.
Fescirtuyz
1
i don't how some player's think instead to go to a big team his scared of competition.
Cekeknpsyz
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Good good coach of all standard
liverpoli
1
Nice