Newcastle United transfer imminent as 30-goal forward 'missing' from training
Newcastle United forward Miguel Almiron has said his goodbyes ahead of a £10million move to Atlanta United.
Almiron came off the bench to make his final appearance for Newcastle in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Southampton. After the match, the Paraguayan ‘waved goodbye’ to the travelling supporters as they chanted his name.
Almiron has agreed to return to his former club Atlanta United, six years after leaving to join Newcastle for £21million. The winger has since scored 30 goals in 223 appearances for Newcastle including the club’s first goal back in the Champions League after 20 years.
He is due to complete his move to Atlanta this week having said his goodbyes at the Newcastle training ground. The Magpies squad trained on Wednesday in preparation for Saturday’s Premier League match against Fulham at St James’ Park.
Unsurprisingly, Almiron was absent from the session ahead of his imminent transfer. Other players not pictured in training were Jamaal Lascelles, Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson - who have all been out with injuries.
It is understood Wilson has since returned to training following a hamstring issue but remains a doubt for Saturday’s match. Emil Krafth also wasn’t pictured in the club’s gallery along with training goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Otherwise it was a strong compliment of players for Eddie Howe at Darsley Park as The Magpies eye an 11th win in 12 matches in all competitions.
The MLS transfer window is set to open on Friday, January 31 with Almiron’s transfer set to be made official shortly. The 30-year-old is understood to have agreed a deal until 2029 at Atlanta.
What Miguel Almiron’s agent has said about the move
This week, Almiron’s agent, Daniel Campos, went public in confirming that his client would be leaving Newcastle to return to the Mercedes-Benz Arena. The MLS season gets underway at the end of February.
Speaking about the move to Atlanta, Campose said: “It’s a very organised club, people idolise him and he got a long-term contract, which is what he was looking for.
“He’s going to be the one in charge of this team. They are putting together a competitive team.
“It’s a big step because he had some very good moments [at Newcastle].”
What transfer business could Newcastle United still do?
The focus this transfer window has very much been on outgoings with major incomings unlikely. Youth additions such as Kyle Fitzgerald and potentially one more will bolster the academy set-up but Howe’s first-team squad is set to look a bit lighter at the end of the window compared to how it started it.
In addition to Almiron, Matt Targett, Sean Longstaff and Odysseas Vlachodimos have all been linked with possible exits this month but remain on Tyneside for now.
21-year-old midfielder Jamie Miley is set to join National League side Hartlepool United on a permanent deal after being recalled from his loan spell at Newport County.
Other players in the Under-21s squad may be loaned out in the final days of the window. The transfer window closes for Newcastle on Monday, February 3 at 11pm.