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Report: Newcastle look to reignite former partnership by signing 26-year-old

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Image for Report: Newcastle look to reignite former partnership by signing 26-year-old

Just this time last year, the Magpies managed to pickpocket one of the most talented players from across the pond in Miguel Almiron – and now they are said to be having another go from the same club.

The chief Newcastle writer at the Chronicle Lee Ryder has claimed within a Q&A that Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez is being eyed by the club, and that Steve Nickson has ‘definitely scouted him’.

In the whole of the 2019 MLS season, only two players have scored more than the Venezuelan in Carlos Vela and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the attacker getting a huge return of 28 in 32.

While fans should know that the standards are obviously a huge way apart – Almiron hasn’t had anywhere near the same success at this level – they will still be hopeful that his eye for a goal will not be lost if he comes to England.

Despite only being 5’7, he is very quick and strong in the air, so there is a chance that he will not take too long to adjust to the physicality of the Premier League as his physical attributes are so impressive.

Would you back a £30m bid for Josef Martinez?

Yes, we need goals and he's a goalscorer

If we can get him for less, then yes

Nope, he is unproven at this level

Nope, he is unproven at this level

This would not be his first experience in Europe – and it didn’t quite work out for him there. He played for both Young Boys and Torino in a five-year spell between 2012 and 2017, and he wasn’t able to get close to mirroring the kind of tally he has at the moment.

That being said, his stats in the MLS are pretty unavoidable; 77 goals in 83 games at that level shows an incredible goal record, so you can see why they are drawn to the player.

His height makes him a different animal to Joelinton, which could end up suiting both parties as they might find a way of playing alongside each other rather than being a direct replacement, as playing either player will require a shift in tactics.

Another thing which can’t be ignored is the partnership that he and Almiron had when they played together. They managed to win the MLS Cup playing in the same team in 2018, and they were both considered their star players, so that should be helpful when it comes to negotiations that he has an old friend playing at the same club.

AtlAllDay, an Atlanta fan website, suggest that Frank de Boer’s side want around $40million (£30.4m) for the forward, which could be a bit of a hiccup considering he is unproven within the continent. However, if the club are desperate for someone who is confident in front of goal, then this could well be their man. At 26, he is hitting his prime ages as a forward and they could be about to get his best years.

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