Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has strongly hinted that a bid has been tabled by a rival club for Miguel Almiron as he shoots down claims of a deal being agreed by the Magpies.
The Daily Mail claimed in midweek that the St James’ Park outfit had agreed terms of a loan-to-buy move for the 24-year-old attacking midfielder, with a £15million fee at the end of the six month temporary spell.
However, Benitez has strongly suggested that while a bid is on the table for the Atlanta United man it has not come from his side, although he did not deny chief scout Steve Nickson’s trip to the United States or that the Magpies were interested in the Paraguayan.
He was quoted by journalist Lee Ryder as saying: “I could hear somebody made an offer but we haven’t.”
Rafa Benitez asked if deal is lined up for Almiron after Nickson's trip to States: "I could hear somebody made an offer but we haven't." #nufc
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) December 7, 2018
Opinion
This cryptic response poses more questions than answers from the Spaniard. It is a really strange way to word things and it makes you wonder just where the Magpies stand in the hunt for Almiron. How, or why for that matter, would he know that a bid had been placed by rivals if he was not chasing the attacking maestro himself? The January transfer window is going to be an important one for Benitez and it seems as though Almiron is indeed on his list, having failed to reject suggestions chief scout Nickson has been on an important mission across the Atlantic. Still, Benitez knows a lot more than what he is letting on in public and his response to probes on Almiron will have been worded exactly how he wanted them to be. Will the Paraguay star be lining up in black and white come January? Only time will tell but it seems as though Newcastle do indeed have competition for his capture. The Magpies are unlikely to win a bidding war, so they must hope that Nickson’s trip was a successful one.