Eddie Howe has already sent sporting director Paul Mitchell a transfer warning ahead of Newcastle United's decision to cash in on winger Miguel Almiron.

Almiron is closing in on a return to Atlanta United, with the player ready to travel to the United States in the coming days to finalise an emotional reunion with the MLS side. The player joined Newcastle from Atlanta six years ago.

Almiron was an unused substitute in the 4-1 thrashing by Bournemouth over the weekend and has had minimal impact or game time in recent weeks. He featured briefly off the bench against Arsenal and Wolves, and started the cup tie against Bromley, but has slipped down the pecking order under Eddie Howe.

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The Paraguayan is currently enjoying a break away from Tyneside with family but is on standby to jet across the pond as Atlanta add the final touches on a deal for the 30-year-old. Newcastle are poised to allow Almiron to depart for a fee of $12m [£10m]. This, despite Howe being hesitant to lose the Paraguayan international given Newcastle's current PSR situation, with the Magpies unable to spend big this month.

The current feeling among those close to the United boardroom is that they won't replace Almiron, should he depart. Instead, the fee will be banked and put towards a summer war chest.

Losing Almiron may bring in much-needed funds in the club's ongoing financial battle but the boss is already concerned with how thin his squad is looking at present.

"It's not ideal,’ Howe said when asked about Almiron last week. "But I don’t think it’s ideal from anyone’s viewpoint. From our side, we don’t want to lose players. But we know that there is a reality to PSR and the ongoing managing of that situation. So sometimes we are making decisions not based on football, but based on decisions we potentially have to make for the future."

It's a situation that Howe is familiar with, however. Back in 2023, with Newcastle chasing a Champions League spot and a place in the Carabao Cup final - pretty much exactly the same position they find themselves in now - the decision was made to sell striker Chris Wood to Nottingham Forest for £15million.

It left Howe concerned about his strength in depth at the top end of the pitch. And he was quick to warn the Newcastle hierarchy that his squad would be left 'dangerously short' if they didn't replace Wood - and that finding someone in January was a tricky ask.

“It was a difficult decision because you have to take into account the player and his wishes…but I also think it is a very good deal financially for the football club," Howe said at the time.

“We are hopefully planning to replace him. Certainly from my side, there was no thought of letting a player (like Chris Wood) go and not replacing him. That would leave us dangerously short but there’s no guarantees so that’s the position we are in.

“In forward areas you want a player that can excite the fans but they are the hardest to recruit. That is our task now though and (the attacking replacement) being ready to play now is important.”

As it happened, Newcastle did replace Wood, pushing through a deal for Everton attacker Anthony Gordon. The £45m deal proved to be a smart bit of business as the winger, while taking a bit of time to adapt, helped United qualify for the Champions League.

Mitchell was not at the club at the time, and Newcastle were in a different financial position. However, the message from Howe then remains clear today - selling one of his attackers, especially with fitness concerns over Callum Wilson, Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes - could leave him very light on bodies and quality at the top end of the pitch.