Report: Atlanta name Almiron price as Newcastle fly out for talks

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Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron is said to be at the top of Newcastle United’s shopping list this January.

Newcastle United could face a struggle when it comes to negotiating a fee for Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron; something that the club’s Head of Recruitment Steve Nickson will allegedly try to do over the coming days.

That is according to the Mirror, who also report that the MLS team value their star asset at £25million.

And that figure gives the Magpies a real decision to make in January; is that fee, one that is £8million higher than their current transfer record, the right deal for them?

While MLS has grown considerably in recent years, Almiron is still playing in a division that is a fair few rungs lower than the Premier League and he would undoubtedly be making a big step up.

The Paraguayan did cut it in Argentina with Lanus before making the move to Atlanta, suggesting that he has got what it takes to adapt to new leagues and countries easily enough, but this would still be a £25million gamble.

It has been reported recently by the Chronicle that Mike Ashley is prepared to finally break the club’s transfer record, thus the fee is not necessarily a stumbling block on its own, but it does beg two questions.

If the money is there, would Newcastle be better off taking two smaller, non-record breaking gambles from lesser leagues in an effort to boost their squad? Almiron may very well be a fine player, but he was signed for roughly £5million only two years ago.

The two years since may have made him a smaller risk but he is still very much one.

If Newcastle are finally spending big, should it really be on a player who is still such an unknown quantity? £25million could get you a safer bet from any of the French, German, Spanish or Italian leagues – a player with more experience at this level.

Just this summer, £25million was enough to secure the signings of Jean-Michael Seri and Lucas Torreira – both excellent players with the proven quality that Almiron lacks.

If the Paraguayan is the exact player that Newcastle want, then signing him makes complete sense, but the Magpies may be better served looking elsewhere if he is the gamble he appears to be.