Atlanta United club president Darren Eales says star player Miguel Almiron will only leave the club if they receive “a proper, serious offer”.
Newcastle United have been heavily linked with a January loan move for Almiron, who has proved himself as one of the best players in Major League Soccer during a two-year spell with Atlanta, which would precede a £15m permanent move.
Will Newcastle sign Almiron? Five key things to know
- The attacking midfielder has 13 goals and 13 assists during the 2018 MLS season.
- As well as Newcastle, both Spurs and Arsenal have been credited with an interest in Almiron.
- Daniel Campos, the player’s agent, says Almiron will “certainly play in the Premier League” and it was reported this week that Rafa Benitez has a deal in place.
- But Eales insists Atlanta would never loan one of their players or let Almiron leave for “chump change” amid concerns Mike Ashley won’t sign off on what could be a club-record fee.
- The Paraguay international finished second in MVP voting this season behind teammate Josef Martinez.
Asked whether Atlanta could allow Almiron to leave for the Premier League in the new year, Eales told Sky Sports: “I have seen some laughable things in the press, clearly we are never going to loan one of our players out and we are certainly not going to let them go for the chump change that I have seen in some reports.
“If it’s a proper, serious offer then it’s something we would consider, but not for the laughable figures that I have seen mentioned in the press.”
However, despite reiterating that the midfielder won’t be leaving on the cheap, Eales did admit that he feels Almiron would be a success in Europe.
“He has proved in these two years that he is by far and away one of the best players in the league,” Eales added.
“He is still a young player, he is a Paraguay international and it’s brilliant he can cope with the physicality of the Argentinian league with Lanus and also the MLS.
“He is an amazing player, he was one of the best players on the pitch in both of the All-Star games that we played against Juventus and Real Madrid. I have no doubt that when the time is right, and the offer is right, he can be a success in whatever league he goes to.”
READ MORE: Who is Newcastle target Miguel Almiron?
Where would Almiron fit in at Newcastle?
Almiron is said to be one of two or three players that Magpies boss Rafa Benitez would like to add to his squad in January.
The midfielders ability to get goals from midfield is something they have been lacking since the sale of Gini Wijnaldum to Liverpool.
At the moment, Ayoze Perez is often the man who occupies Almiron’s favoured role behind the striker, but you could argue that the Paraguayan is a lot more suited to this particular position.
He is also able to play in a number of different roles across the midfield and would definitely boost the options at Benitez’s disposal for the second half of the season.
The post Atlanta Utd insist Miguel Almiron won’t be sold for “chump change” amid Newcastle links appeared first on Squawka News.
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