While the rumours are early days, one can already begin to imagine the uproar if Miguel Almiron is sold in the summer January transfer window.
Personally, if the money’s there, let him go.
Reports from a popular Paraguayan sports reporter in Luis Enrique Perez suggest that both Arsenal and Inter Milan are wanting our attacking midfielder, and if this is true, it needs to be considered objectively.
According to esteemed Paraguayan sports journalist Luís Enrique Pérez: Miguel Almiron is in the interest of Arsenal and Inter Milan. #NUFC https://t.co/KrV7pRV1Nl
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) March 10, 2020
For sure, the player has looked fantastic in a central role in the past few weeks, and will always put a shift in, but we could do better.
Since joining in January 2018, his stats have been frankly underwhelming. He now essentially has a full season in the Premier League behind his belt with 38 games over the spread of two campaigns; his return? Two goals and one assist.
When the Magpies splashed £21m on the player – making him the club’s record signing – fans would have been disappointed with those kinds of statistics.
What has he shown? A lot of passion, a desire, work ethic, but ultimately, they are not goals or assists: they are good enough to earn the respect of the fans, but not push us on.
Should Almiron be sold in the summer for the right price?
No way, love him
Yes, cash in
Obviously, beggars cannot be choosers. He is still one of the better players within the team and carries a threat. However, if a club the size of Arsenal or Inter Milan come along with £40m in their back pockets and ask us to part ways, then we should bear in mind our future and accept the bid.
From the players available, we have Valentino Lazaro, Allan Saint-Maximin, Christian Atsu and Miguel Almiron available as proper wingers. From those, Atsu is obviously the standout worst and most disposable, but after that, Almiron is the one I would want to see leave most.
Almiron hasn’t really been able to bring much to the table and only has a 6.64/10 average match rating this season. He averages just 1.5 dribbles per game, 0.7 key passes and 1.5 shots per match; Saint-Maximum offers 4.4 dribbles, 1.3 key passes and 1.7 shots per match, making him more of a threat in pretty much all departments; Lazaro, while playing four times, is yet to really get going yet.
The Austrian international, just 23, has an option to be bought by the club, and if they can sell Almiron and get him in while leaving some left in the bank, then it’s a decision that needs to be made and then someone in at attacking midfielder.
While Almiron is a player we all love to watch, he hasn’t quite cut the mustard, and if it means we can get a player in Lazaro who can both retain his value and continue to improve, then we should.