Speaking to the media in South America this week, Miguel Almiron’s agent has opened up on his client’s relationship with Eddie Howe and discussed the key reason a January exit could be complicated.
The Paraguayan is reportedly desperate to leave the north east after falling down the rankings, thanks in no small part to the recent form of Jacob Murphy whose output recently has been bordering on absurd.
Almiron has just one start this season and that looks unlikely to change any time soon, especially with Murphy starting in all three wins over the span of the last week, but a move in January may prove to be complicated for the 30-year-old.
“Miguel Almirón has no conflict with his coach \[Howe\]. Only that the player is looking for minutes,” were the words of Almiron’s agent Daniel Campos about his client’s situation at the club.
However, he revealed the key complication that may keep the Paraguayan on Tyneside: “Many teams in Europe want him, but the issue is his high salary. If he doesn’t leave, Almirón will stay to fulfil his contract at Newcastle, where he’s an idol.”
Idol? Not so sure that’s the words I would use to describe Almiron at Newcastle but, if he is to stay then he must be utilised – as Howe stated in his interview after the comfortable Ipswich victory, he will work with the squad he has first and foremost.
It’s well documented that we must sell to buy for PSR reasons, so with Almiron one of few we could receive a decent fee for and clearly on big wages – his agent said it himself – he could hold the key to any new right-winger arriving.
To sign we must sell. It really is that simple if you believe Howe’s latest comments. With this in mind, we’ll have to hope Almiron’s demands don’t scupper our hopes of trading next month.
PSV star Johan Bakayoko has been heavily linked with a switch to St James’ Park, but a sale must be made to finance the deal. Of course, it doesn’t have to be Almiron who goes out of the exit door to procure the funds.
Martin Dubravka has been tipped with a move to Saudi – as Almiron was in the summer – but he alone is unlikely to cause the shift required for a statement signing like Bakayoko. Not only that, Howe has made it clear that Dubravka won’t be sold if he’s still required in Nick Pope’s injury absence.
The club is also ‘listening to offers’ for Sean Longstaff, according to Craig Hope at The Mail, so we may still have other routes to raising cash should Almiron price himself out of a move.
Nevertheless, whether there is change within the club in January or not, Howe continues to get the best out of his squad and there has to be optimism around Newcastle coming into the new year.