OPINION
This is not a drill. Newcastle United are set to break their transfer record in a £20.5million deal for Atlanta United star Miguel Almiron.
After weeks of speculation, which pointed towards Newcastle missing out on the 24-year-old, a whirlwind of developments over the past 24 hours have seen proceedings take a shock u-turn.
As widely reported, Almiron is now on his way to Tyneside to undergo a medical with the club, with a deal agreed between the Magpies and Atlanta.
BREAKING: Newcastle have agreed terms with Atlanta United for Miguel Almiron. We understand he’s travelling to the UK for a medical. Likely to be a club record transfer. #NUFC
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) January 29, 2019
On the pitch, this will be a huge deal for the Magpies, who have been crying out for a creative force through the middle in attack.
Almiron tore up the MLS this season with 13 goals and 13 assists for champions Atlanta, and that kind of productivity would be a godsend for Newcastle in their battle against relegation.
However, there is also set to be significant off-field benefits of this move as well.
Manager Rafa Benitez has been growing more and more frustrated with the club’s lack of transfer activity, and for the first time this week denied to guarantee that he would remain in charge until the end of the season [Chronicle].
To lose the Spaniard before the summer would have likely condemned Newcastle to relegation, but their u-turn on Almiron will certainly secure his future for now.
Benitez is a huge admirer of the Paraguay international, who has been his top target this month for a while now, and he will be delighted with this massive development.
The fact that the club are to break their transfer record is another thing that will please Benitez, who has been limited massively in his spending at St. James’ Park.
While there are still no guarantees that he will sign a new contract in the summer, this deal for Almiron definitely secures his future for now, and gives huge hope that he will decide to remain on Tyneside beyond this season.
