Rafael Benitez is pushing hard for Newcastle United to sign MLS star Miguel Almiron in the January window, according to the Sun.
The newspaper claim the Magpies are firmly in the race to land the Paraguayan playmaker from Atlanta United despite competing interest for the £15million-valued player from Everton and West Ham.
The Sun report Benitez is convinced that Almiron, 24, can make an immediate impact in the Premier League after thriving in the MLS since joining from Argentine side Lanus in 2016.
Good move for Newcastle?
It would be difficult to claim Almiron would be a nailed-on star in the Premier League. Is the apparent widespread interest in him the work of busy agents keen to get their client a move to the richest and most glamorous league in the world, or evidence of a player ready to hit the big time and deliver the goods instantly. Certainly, Almiron has an outstanding record for Atlanta, with his 67 appearances yielding 22 goals and an impressive 21 assists. He has had an excellent year and is a 13-times international, but there must be some doubt as to whether he can make a big impact in England.
This Is Futbol rating 5/10
Likely to happen?
This is Newcastle and the player’s price tag is said to be £15million, a fee the club haven’t paid for a player since Michael Owen was in his pomp. Benitez might very well have identified Almiron as the ideal Newcastle signing who can hit the ground running in January, but persuading Mike Ashley to fork out that kind of fee looks unlikely, to say the very least. Unless the owner’s recent appearances at St James’ Park and growing dialogue with the manager are for something other than PR purposes.
This Is Futbol rating 2/10