Sale of Newcastle player now imminent with buying club having set timeframe for deal
MIGUEL ALMIRON’S Newcastle United exit could be completed in the next seven days, with US side Charlotte FC hoping to have a deal wrapped up ahead of their return to pre-season training on January 12.
Eddie Howe has reluctantly agreed to sanction Almiron’s departure this month, with the Paraguayan barely having featured in the first half of the season.
The winger, who has entered the final 18 months of his current deal on Tyneside, has made just one Premier League start this term, with Howe preferring to play Jacob Murphy or an out-of-position Anthony Gordon on the right-hand side. Newcastle are also in the market for a new right-sided attacker this month.
Almiron has been the subject of considerable early interest since the transfer window officially reopened at the turn of the year.
Brazilian sides Santos and Botafogo have held preliminary discussions with Newcastle officials, while Greek club Olympiakos have also signalled their intention to make a move for the 30-year-old.
However, if he is to leave the Magpies, Almiron has his heart set on a return to the MLS, having left Atlanta United to join Newcastle in January 2019 for a then club-record fee of around £21m.
Charlotte FC tried to sign Almiron in the summer, but were unable to meet Newcastle’s demands for the South American.
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However, with Almiron barely having featured in the last six months, the Magpies hierarchy have accepted they will have to reduce their demands and agree to a compromise settlement.
Initial talks have taken place, with Newcastle expected to agree to a final package that will be worth somewhere in the region of £10m.
Charlotte FC assistant manager Christian Fuchs, who was a Premier League title winner with Leicester City, has been involved in the discussions over a possible Almiron deal, and appears to be confident an agreement could be close.
“He’s (Almiron) a great player, but I don’t really want to talk about him as he hasn’t signed yet,” said Fuchs. “There are always a lot of names being associated with Charlotte FC and all I know is that, once it is signed, Almiron will be a great addition to our club and I would really look forward to him joining us and playing for us.
“We are very ambitious, coming up into our fourth year and it has been a steady progression within the club, within the MLS and we are really looking forward to getting going again.
“We are coming back on January 12th, going into pre-season, and it is going to be a great season ahead.”
Ideally, Charlotte would like to be able to unveil Almiron as one of their marquee overseas additions ahead of the start of their pre-season programme.
With the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations continuing to inhibit their ability to spend, Newcastle are hoping to make two or three sales this month.
Kieran Trippier is available, although talk of a possible move to Saudi Arabia for the former England international appears to have cooled in the last few months. Bayern Munich have previously tried to sign Trippier, but the Bundesliga leaders are not expected to rekindle their interest in the 34-year-old this month.
Sean Longstaff’s future is also the subject of ongoing debate, with Everton having been linked with a possible move for the central midfielder.
Howe would ideally like to keep Longstaff, who has made eight starts in eight substitute appearances in the league this season.
However, as a homegrown player, any fee received for Longstaff is effectively pure profit when it comes to PRS calculations, making his sale a potentially lucrative avenue. Lewis Miley’s return from injury means Newcastle are reasonably well-stocked in the central-midfield area.
