With so many major names linked with leaving Newcastle United, it feels like one of Eddie Howe’s first-team stars will be leaving the club this month.
There has been speculation over megastar Bruno Guimaraes being sold, while Kieran Trippier is the subject of interest from Bayern Munich.
Elsewhere, it has been claimed that AC Milan are keen to sign Callum Wilson from Newcastle United, with the 31-year-old another player who could be moved on to help with profit and sustainability rules.
But Wilson is not the player who the Toon hierarchy should be looking to cash in on, nor should it be Bruno Guimaraes – even if a move away for the Brazilian would see Newcastle receive £100million.
Instead, the player who Newcastle should be looking to sell during the January transfer window is Miguel Almiron.
Miguel Almiron linked with leaving Newcastle
Monday brought rumours that Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab had agreed a deal with Newcastle to sign Almiron, and that the 29-year-old was interested in making the move.
This claim has since been played down, but it perhaps might not be the last we hear of this story – and nor should it.
It is clear that Newcastle need to sell before they can buy. That leaves the club in a challenging situation, as the majority of players that are worth good money are invaluable to Eddie Howe’s team. We would be infinitely worse off without the likes of Bruno or Alexander Isak.
Alternatively, fringe players like Matt Ritchie simply aren’t worth enough to give the Toon recruitment team the financial boost they need.
Toon exit could make a lot of sense this month for Almiron
But Miguel Almiron is bang in the middle. He is talented enough that he will fetch a decent fee, but not so talented that an exit would potentially ruin the rest of Newcastle’s season.
Signed for £21million and with a contract that runs until 2026, Almiron still retains a lot of value. But his popularity has dipped as of late, with the Paraguayan missing some key chances at big moments.
It has left fans calling for a replacement, while news that Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes are nearing a return from injury could provide Newcastle the encouragement they need to sell Almiron.
While Eddie Howe would be sad to see him go, having branded him an ‘important‘ player, he would be easier to replace than someone like Trippier or Wilson. And he would probably command a bigger fee too, given his age and contract situation.
When Newcastle sold Allan Saint-Maximin in the summer, it made sense. He was popular but no longer essential, and his exit opened the door for others to arrive.
Almiron could do the same this month, and he is the player who Newcastle should be looking to sell if they really need to let someone go this month.
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