After some impressive, eye-catching performances at the Copa America for Paraguay, Real Madrid are rumoured to be monitoring Newcastle star Miguel Almiron, according to the website for Argentine sports channel TyC Sports.
But it is surely unlikely to happen, particularly given the uncertainty currently enveloping St James’ Park.
Having looked every inch a Premier League star in the making since arriving on Tyneside from Atlanta, Almiron is silencing the many doubters, who questioned his ability to adapt to a top league.
But whichever way we look at the possible scenarios at Newcastle this week, Almiron being sold is not a logical part of any of them.
Whether Rafa stays or goes selling Almiron is illogical
If Rafa decides to stay, he will want to keep his best players, and the Paraguay international is definitely one of them, having been chased by the Spaniard for a long time.
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Equally, if Benitez was to cut his losses and leave, a new manager coming in would want to inherit as strong a squad as possible, before adding to it with his own players.
Players like Almiron, Ayoze Perez, Jamaal Lascelles and Martin Dubravka are the type of players that will sell the club to potential managers, and the thought of them cutting the rug from under their feet before they have even arrived, is ludicrous.
So as much as the Spanish giants may be keeping an eye on him, it would be a major surprise if Almiron was not in a Newcastle shirt against Arsenal on the opening weekend of the season.