Miguel Almiron became a Newcastle United player but at the tail end of 2018 it was reported he had agreed to join Arsenal, so what happened?

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United takes on Hector Bellerin of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on February 16, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 16: Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United takes on Hector Bellerin of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on February 16, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Miguel Almiron became a Newcastle United player for a fee of around £21m in January 2019 but it seems as if Arsenal had a real interest in the player, at least for a while.

Arsenal were first linked with a move for the Paraguay international back in 2016 when his agent admitted the club had made an approach for the player that ‘didn’t go any further’.

At that time, it was expected a fee of around €10m would be enough to seal a deal. Those comments came two days after it was reported Arsenal had agreed a €9.4m deal for him.

Nothing came of that and Almiron headed to the States to sign for Atlanta United and it all went quiet on the Arsenal front until October 2018.

A quote emerged at the start of that month that was reportedly from Atlanta’s president, Darren Eales, that claimed a deal was done with Arsenal that would see the player move in January for £11.5m but it didn’t take long for these quotes to be dismissed as fake news.

Newcastle then entered the equation but right up until December 2018, Arsenal were still said to be holding an interest even though the MLS wanted a big fee and Arsenal had no money (Arsenal had a net spend of around €70m for the whole of the 18/19 season, bringing in Denis Suarez on loan in January 2019).

miguel almiron
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 08: Miguel Almiron #10 of Atlanta United celebrates their 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers during the 2018 MLS Cup between Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s interest in Almiron was lengthy and apparently genuine but it seems as if money was the reason they bowed out of any deal.

Atlanta were adamant they wanted a decent fee for the player, and while they were hoping to get in excess of £30m for him, they settled for £21m, which still represents a profit of £14.25m.

Almiron took a while to get really going at Newcastle, but the arrival of Saudi cash and Eddie Howe has helped unlock his potential.

The 28-year-old has nine goals and three assists in 26 games this season.

Before, this season, he had scored just 14 goals in 123 games (with five assists)

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