Atlanta United have slapped a £20million price tag on the head of Newcastle United transfer target Manuel Almiron as Rafael Benitez’s side claim to have the funds available for a big money capture, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper claim on their website that the attacking midfielder is firmly in the sights of the Spanish manager and that the 24-year-old ticks plenty of boxes for the Magpies, who are looking to sign players who have not just the ability to perform for the first team but have sell-on value.
It is stated that Atlanta want suitors to start offers at £25million – a fee which would smash Newcastle’s transfer record – but that the Magpies have already claimed, in a fan forum, that they have the “money available for these players,” in relation to signings above the cash spent on record capture Michael Owen.
Opinion
Almiron’s name is getting a lot of publicity on Tyneside and it seems that Newcastle’s hunt for his capture is gaining traction. However, will this huge, record breaking fee for the Magpies – one which they have been reluctant to stretch too before – stop their pursuit dead in its tracks? Even the most optimistic of Newcastle fans, who feel like owner Mike Ashley has turned a corner and might be willing to invest a hefty amount of money on the squad, will believe that a starting price of £25million rules their side out of the running. Unless Ashley has had a huge change of heart, this deal is a no go for Newcastle and they will probably be left scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to January. It is a huge shame, because Newcastle deserve progress as a club and Almiron is an exciting player who fits the bill perfectly, but for Ashley it is all about money – and that is probably too much to green light.