Newcastle United secured the signing of Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almiron during the January transfer window.
Paul Merson has claimed that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has paid only £2 million for new signing Miguel Almiron and could potentially sell him for £40 million down the line.
Sky Sports reported on deadline day that the Premier League club paid £21 million for the 24-year-old, who joins from MLS side Atlanta United.
Almiron’s reported transfer to Newcastle is their club-record fee, previously breaking the £16.5 million they paid for Michael Owen from Real Madrid in 2005.
Nonetheless, former Arsenal midfielder Merson made a number of claims about Almiron’s signing and what Ashley will be thinking about him in the long run.
“It’s a big gamble [on Almiron’s signing],” Merson told Soccer Saturday on 02/02/2019. “It’s one of them gambles where Ashley is taking on the strength if this kid hits it off, he’s £40m and there’s potential for a sell on. It’s not dead money.
Le Tissier then asks him if he really thinks Mike Ashley has paid the reported fee of £21 million for Almiron:
“I’m probably going with about two,” Merson responded.
At this moment in time, Newcastle supporters won’t be too fussed about what happens with Almiron in the long distant future because he will be wearing their colours now.
The Toon Army faithful have been calling for their owner to make an ambitous signing such as this and they will be hoping he can prove his worth in the coming months.
Almiron can play all across the front three, preferably in behind the striker, and he will be hoping to provide manager Rafa Benitez with a much-needed attacking threat in the final third.
During the recently concluded MLS season, the Paraguay international played 32 league games for his side, scoring 12 goals and supplying 13 assists, according to transfermarkt.
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