OPINION
Newcastle United fans will be getting sweaty palms as they head into the final week of the transfer window without a single new arrival at St James’ Park – though things could quite easily change over the next seven days.
There might have been plenty of speculation surrounding the Magpies and who they might manage to bring in to help bolster their side but at the time of writing Rafael Benitz is still waiting to see his transfer team hand him some fresh blood.
The Chronicle have claimed that there has been a bid tabled for Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron – a fee of around £16million sitting in front of the MLS outfit – but that the Paraguayan star has a £23million asking price on his head.
Many of the Toon Army will be frustrated at their side’s unwillingness to meet Atlanta’s record breaking fee but it could well be a savvy piece of business to keep their bid low for now as the pressure mounts on the Americans.
The reason that the MLS side may well be sweating is because of their confirmed capture of Gonzalo Martinez from River Plate, as revealed on their official Twitter account, a deal which has serious implications for the future of Almiron.
It's official, #ATLUTD signs Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez from River Plate
DETAILS: https://t.co/FcqwSnwLnm pic.twitter.com/3MJ0lOnJpq
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) January 24, 2019
As stated by Atlanta-based publication the AJC, Martinez has become the fourth designated player at the club – a designated player being one whose wages can exceed the salary cap – and with just three DPs allowed at any MLS side, it puts the pressure on Atlanta to sell up.
Who are the other designated players? Striker Josef Martinez is one, but having penned a five-year deal at the club earlier in January, it is unlikely he will be leaving this month.
Wingers Ezequiel Barco is another, although it could be difficult offloading the 19-year-old due to his current injury, while Almiron is the third and with a bid on the table, the most obvious to leave.
Newcastle are surely in the driving seat over Almiron and his future now and with Atlanta needing to sell up, the Americans could find themselves forced into accepting a cut price deal with the Magpies.