Exclusive: £21m Newcastle player is now likely to leave at the end of the season

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Miguel Almiron is not going to be leaving Newcastle United this month, but an exit in 2024 could still be on the cards.

The 29-year-old has been the subject of interest from Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab, who have been trying to sign the Paraguay international.

However, they did not meet Newcastle’s asking price of £30million, while it was reported that Almiron was not too keen on a move to the Middle East.

Now the transfer window in Saudi Arabia has closed, so it looks like the £21million man is definitely staying put. There were no other clubs from different countries in the running to sign Almiron, so that will end talk of him being sold in January.

But while he is not going to leave this week, HITC Football insider Graeme Bailey has told Geordie Boot Boys that he still expects Miguel Almiron to be sold by Newcastle ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Miguel Almiron expected to leave Newcastle

“Al-Shabab have been trying,” he said.

“It’s a deal that was possible. If they had come up to £30million – Newcastle say they didn’t – I think Newcastle would have done it. Even though Miggy is hugely popular, I don’t think too many Newcastle fans would have complained about getting £30million for a 29-year-old.

“I think it’s something they will revisit in the summer. I don’t expect Miggy to be with Newcastle next season. I think he’ll get moved on, but he’s not the only one.

“He’s very happy on Tyneside. He’s on decent money now but he would have been offered a pay rise at the age of 29 to go to Saudi. I think if Newcastle had accepted an offer, he probably would have too.”

January was the wrong time for Almiron to leave Newcastle

A January exit would have helped Newcastle spend this month, but it did not suit Almiron. He did not fancy playing in Saudi Arabia, which is understandable.

But his future will be up for debate again in the summer, when he might have a few more options. There will surely be more clubs interested in the Paraguayan, and Bailey expects him to be moved on.

That would not be a surprise, but letting him go now would have been a risk. There would have been no guarantees of a replacement, which would have left Newcastle even lighter than they already are in attack.