Newcastle agree club-record fee to buy Miguel Almirón from Atlanta

Newcastle United have agreed a deal in principle to sign Miguel Almirón from Atlanta United for a club record fee, believed to be worth up to around £20m.

The Paraguay midfielder is keen to move to the Premier League club, despite late interest from Napoli and Internazionale, and is due to arrive for a medical on Wednesday or Thursday.

There are issues to resolve before the transfer can be sealed, understood to include the structure of payment and bonuses. But personal terms have been agreed and Rafael Benítez is hopeful of making his first signing of the window.

Newcastle’s manager suffered the latest in a series of transfer setbacks when the transfer of the Lazio full-back Jordan Lukaku fell through. The club are reported to have held talks with Benfica and Monaco over loan moves for the midfielder Andreas Samaris and defender Antonio Barreca respectively.

Almirón is an attacking midfielder who has 12 caps and played for clubs in his homeland and Argentina before joining Atlanta in 2016.

Newcastle’s transfer record has stood since Michael Owen was signed from Real Madrid in 2005 for £16m.