Newcastle ‘agree’ deal to offload Miguel Almiron in shock January transfer
NEWCASTLE have agreed a shock deal to let Miguel Almiron leave for the Saudi Pro League, according to reports.
The Paraguayan star looks set to join Al-Shabab this month.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the transfer is not completed just yet.
However, it is understood Almiron, 29, is open to the move to the Middle East.
The 53-cap attacker joined the Toon from Atlanta United for £20.7million in 2019 and has racked up 30 goals in 195 games.
However, just five of those strikes have come this season as he has struggled for form while Newcastle are down in tenth in the Premier League.
Now Al-Shabab are keen to snap him up from the Saudi-owned Magpies.
The White Lion, who finished fourth last season, have Yannick Carasco as their standout overseas player.
Former Wolves defender Romain Saiss is also at the club, on loan from Al-Sadd.
Al-Shabab currently sit 11th in the Saudi Pro League table during the winter break – just four points above the bottom three.
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Newcastle are well aware of their need to comply with Premier League profit and sustainability rules.
Toon CEO Darren Eales said last week every player has a price and added: “It’s difficult to hypothesise but, if we’re offered £1billion for one of those players, then no one could argue against that making sense.
“At times it is necessary to trade your players.
“Whether that is because of the contract length of the player in question, the offer is too good to refuse, you need to reload in certain areas.
“But all of this could make sense to trade that player.
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“It is counter-intuitive and part of the inherent system of PSR that there is an incentive to trade your players if you want to re-invest, by the nature of the boundaries.”
Kieran Trippier is another player Eddie Howe is at risk of losing this month.
The full-back emerged as a shock transfer target for Bayern Munich, where he would be reunited with former Tottenham team-mates Harry Kane and Eric Dier.
Trippier joined Newcastle from Atletico Madrid in 2022 for £12m and has been such a key part of the Magpies’ rise since the Saudi takeover.
His current contract currently has him tied down until 2025 but Eddie Howe wants him to stay put at St James’ Park – despite his recent drop in form.
Newcastle do, though, have a long-term successor at right-back with Tino Livramento.
However, Callum Wilson is expected to stay put in the north-east this month – despite interest from Atletico Madrid.
