** What keeping Almiron means for Eddie Howe and Newcastle.
It's not just Newcastle United fans who are debating the pros and cons of selling some of the players in the squad. There are also discussions going on within the team.
Newcastle are required to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which only allow clubs to lose up to $1 over a three-year cycle0.5 billion pounds.
As things stand, Newcastle's attitude towards Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson is clear: both are too important to leave in this window. Jamal Lascelles, as captain, is also seen as a key figure for the team.
However, Newcastle's attitude towards Miguel Almiron's potential trip to Saudi Arabia is much more ambiguous. Ideally, Howe wouldn't want any first-team players to leave in the winter window, but if he agrees to the player's departure, it seems more acceptable to let Almiron go.
At some point, Newcastle has to become a better seller as soon as possible. Sporting director Dan Ashworth and CEO Darren Ils have both stressed that in the world of PSR, both ** and signings are important.
The problem is, one of the legacies of the Mike Ashley era is that Newcastle don't have enough quality players to spare. Javier Manquillo moved to Celta Vigo, but the economic benefits of the move were minimal, other than the release of some wages.
Conversely, all of Newcastle's assets are either regular appearances, long-term injuries or suspensions. The team has to make compromises and that's why Newcastle are considering Almiron's future.
Maybe they should have given more serious thought to the issue of Almiron last summer. At that time, Almiron scored 13 goals in the league and signed a contract extension with the team until 2026, and his value was also at its peak.
Admittedly, they didn't receive much of a ** for Almiron, but it wasn't just an afterthought, but a clear logic to cash in after a great season.
Almiron failed to score in his first 26 appearances after joining from Atalanta United for £21 million in January 2019. In his first 117 Premier League games, he has an expected goal count of 1563, with only 10 goals scored. In his first three-and-a-half seasons, he also provided just three assists in the league.
After that, he ushered in a phenomenal 2022-23 season. Newcastle finished fourth in the league this season, with Almiron playing a huge role in the team. He ended with 80 of expected goals scored 11 Premier League goals and provided two assists.
Trippier and Almiron).
Some club insiders suspect that his form is unsustainable. Almiron's finishing level during his time with the team has always hinted at his eventual regression.
This season, Almiron has scored 3 goals in 21 top-flight games with an expected goals tally of 40, and had 1 assist.
It's not a shocking record, but it doesn't satisfy Newcastle's ambitions. He made big mistakes (and costly) against Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan, and his lack of right-footed ability against Nottingham Forest also cost him.
Admittedly, it would be unfair to judge Almiron only in terms of data, since his contribution in other areas is also significant.
The Paraguayan has often been the initiator of Newcastle's pressing tactics, and he has been relentless in his high-pressing tactics without the ball. Almiron's work ethic is unrivalled and the coaching staff really enjoy mentoring him. Under Howe's leadership, he has made immeasurable progress and has been at the heart of Newcastle's rise.
While Almiron doesn't belong to the leadership team within the team like Kieran Trippier and Wilson, he is often described by insiders as being behind the scenes"It's infectious"exists. His English may not be great, but his trademark smile and endless positivity have had an uplifting impact on his team-mates, with Kieran Trippier enjoying playing behind Almiron.
Last summer, while Howe was aware of the need to bring in more quality players to the team, he was reluctant to overhaul the team because he wanted the team to maintain continuity and retain the quality of togetherness he had built. Almiron exemplifies this solidarity, while Alain-Saint-Maximine is more individualistic, which is part of the reason why the French are considered more dispensable.
Some behind-the-scenes staff believe that Almiron's performance has been affected by a lack of competition for his position. Serious injuries have hampered the rotation and Almiron knows he will always start, which may have had a subtle impact on his performances. Almiron was dropped against Liverpool, but it was no surprise that he was followed by a strong performance against Sunderland.
Harvey Barnes has been sidelined for a long time with a toe problem and has had a recurrent injury, which is worrying. In this case, it seems puzzling that Newcastle even have to consider** a player who has started 24 games in all competitions.
While Jacob Murphy should be back soon and Barnes won't be too far behind in his comeback progress, Almiron will certainly start against Fulham in the FA Cup and Aston Villa in the league. Aside from Matt Richie, Howe simply has no other options on the offensive line.
Howe would rather keep his current roster and replenish it than lose any players, especially those on the offensive line. While Almiron is considered a strong all-rounder, at a level, Newcastle do need a better main right midfielder than Almiron.
However, Howe is also aware of the limitations that come with PSR. Unless Newcastle cash out some players, there is a good chance Howe will not be able to bring in players – his need for midfield is undeniable, especially after Jo Ellington underwent surgery.
If Newcastle can get £25 million to £30 million from Riyadh Juniors or other Saudi professional league teams through Al Miron, they could free up funds for signings. Riyadh Juniors is not one of the four Saudi Pro League clubs owned by PIF, but any transaction that is judged by the Premier League to be a related party – the definition of a related party is:"An entity that has a significant influence on the Club or (is) part of the same group of companies as the Club"- all according to it"Fair Market Value Assessment"Approved, as was the case with Saint-Maximin's transfer to Jeddah Nationals (owned by the PIF).
In addition, there is a clause that says Atlanta United is entitled to 20% to 25% of any profits made by Almiron.
Ideally, Howe would spend all of his money on buying a midfielder and an attacker. However, if he thinks it's good for the long-term development of the team, he could accept a single signing – a No.8 or an attacker who can play multiple positions – rather than necessarily looking for a replacement for Almiron.
The Newcastle head coach has not been aggressively pushing for a move for Almiron, but he recognises the need to be creative in the market and take short-term risks in exchange for potential long-term gains. Last January, Howe didn't want to lose Chris Wood or Joan Joan Sherway, but with no other options, he chose Anthony Gordon.
The departure of Almiron will starve Howe's resources of available healthy players, and he will be betting to see if the rest of the team's attackers can return soon. However, it could also free up enough PSR space for Newcastle to really try to attract Amadou Onana, Morgan Gibbs-White, Benjamin Shesco or other long-term targets this month.
This helps explain why Newcastle have entered into initial talks with the Saudi club about a possible ** Al Miron, something that the 29-year-old himself does not seem to realise. Newcastle don't want to give Almiron the impression they want him to be – especially before any deal is reached – so the leak of that discussion has been embarrassing.
There is news that Almiron is not interested in a move to Saudi Arabia right now. If the player does not agree to the transfer, then Newcastle's plans for January could be further hampered.
The debate around whether Newcastle should be Almiron is almost a microcosm of the club's entire January transfer window. Whatever Newcastle choose to do, there will be no desired outcome and there will be trade-offs against the pros and cons.