Miguel Almiron's Newcastle United exit is drawing ever closer with an emotional return to Atlanta United close to being finalised. The winger is poised to jet back to the MLS outfit, ending his six-year association on Tyneside.

But what does it mean for Newcastle? Well, the message from inside the club all month has been one of outgoings before incomings, with every indication the Magpies could well bank the money from Almiron's exit until the summer window. Eddie Howe knows the club's situation with regards to profit and sustainability rules [PSR] but, naturally, will be firmly aware his squad has been weakened should the Paraguayan not be replaced in the coming days.

In terms of the finances, however, it looks a shrewd piece of business brought about by the decision makers inside St James' Park. Here's what Almiron's departure will mean for the club.

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Miggy sale proves profitable

Almiron signed for Newcastle on a five-and-a-half year deal back in 2019, for a fee of £21m, and penned a further three-and-a-half extension back in 2023 following a purple patch which sent the north east side into the Champions League. With 18 months left to run on his current contract, the winger's 'book value' is edging ever closer to zero.

A player's book value represents the remaining unamortised portion of their transfer fee and related costs on the club's balance sheet. In Almiron's example, his book value when signing a five-and-a-half year deal would decrease by roughly £3.8m each year until he penned the aforementioned extension.

Newcastle wanted more than the reported £11m that Atlanta are preparing to part with but Almiron's sale means the club can bank a hefty profit on the player's book value, which has continued to decrease further as he edges towards the end of current deal.

With a £73m loss set to drop off the club's three-year PSR balance sheet come the summer, any sales at this stage will only further add to the kitty available for Newcastle to spend come the summer trading period.

Wage impact

As well as bolstering any future transfer kitty at St James' Park, Almiron's exit will also see Newcastle's wage bill decrease in the coming days. In the world of PSR, this is another key metric to pay close attention to.

Thankfully, after heeding warnings from former chief Amanda Staveley, Newcastle have reduced their wage to turnover ratio, with the Deloitte Money League reporting the club's figure has fallen from an 95% in 2022 to 75% in 2023 and 68% in 2024 as revenue and commercial streams have been improved.

Almiron's exact salary is not publicly known but his 2023 contract extension included a pay-rise which will see him earn well into the millions each year. The 30-year-old may not be one of the club's top earners, along with Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon, but takes home a respectable Premier League wage, with added bonuses and incentives stitched into his deal.

Almiron's wages have actually proved a sticking point in previous negotiations, with clubs in the MLS attempting to sign the player in the last summer window. Charlotte FC were one of those interested but the ex-MLS man wasn't open to making the move. Meanwhile, Almiron rejected the advances of plus Saudi clubs in the summer in favour of a Newcastle stay.

Newcastle becoming better sellers

Almiron has started one Premier League game this term, playing just 150 minutes across the entire top flight campaign. Any exit in the region of £10m cannot be sniffed at - even if Newcastle wanted more.

It is a well-documented fact that Howe's side must become 'better sellers' - and this exit is a step in the direction for offloading fringe players for decent money. Clubs such as Liverpool and Chelsea, at the top end of the Premier League, have proved experts at this in recent seasons.

After a panic-stricken firesale of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh in late June 2024, Newcastle vowed not to find themselves in such a position again. Howe is determined not to be left relying on the departures of academy and homegrown talent to balance the books, as seen at other top flight rivals.

"The last thing we want to do, or I want to do as the manager of the club, is to sell academy products who have the potential to play for this team for many years,' the Newcastle boss said earlier this season. "Elliot was a case in point - it was the last sale we wanted to make.

"We knew his qualities and he had just broken into the team towards the back end of last season. He had performed really well in a variety of roles for us. But we were faced with literally no other option in that moment with 48 hours to go, we had to make a decision that we did not want to make.

"It will always be our last choice to do that. But, when you add up everything together and you go, 'Well, it's a points deduction and breaching PSR or making a sale, I think you have to make the sale."