Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Miguel Almiron for quite some time now. The Atlanta United striker has impressed in the American top flight, after moving from CA Lanus at the start of last year.
However, his agent has recently claimed that the player could be leaving Atlanta in January, which will be a boon for Newcastle as they look to bulk up their attack. But, will he be a good addition? Here are the pros and cons of a potential transfer.
Pros
Miguel Almiron is generally advertised as an attacking midfielder, who is known for his versatility. The Paraguayan international can operate anywhere across the final third, which could be useful for Rafael Benitez as his side lacks depth in the attacking department.
However, the Magpies are definitely on the lookout for an attacking midfielder and thankfully for them, that’s where Almiros excels in. The 24-year-old has largely appeared as a secondary striker for Atlanta and has racked up decent numbers as well.
In just 67 matches for the MLS outfit, Almiron has scored 22 goals whilst providing 21 assists. He is also the fifth most productive attacker in the league this year, having been involved in 25 goals.
Therefore, the Paraguayan can surely offer productivity in the final third for Newcastle but most importantly, his ability to create chances will revamp the Magpies attack that has lacked the creative substance this campaign.
Furthermore, he has also averaged around four shots on goal per game, which is no mean feat even for an attacker. This is indicative of his willingness to try and find an opening whenever possible – a trait that could certainly benefit the lacklustre Tyneside outfit.
Cons
Perhaps the biggest bone of contention for Newcastle in this transfer will be his lack of experience in European football.
As a matter of fact, the 24-year-old is yet to play for a European club so far in his career and thus, a move to the fast-paced Premier League could prove difficult for the Paraguayan international to adapt to.
As far as his gameplay is concerned, he certainly needs to improve on the physical aspect of his game as well as his aerial abilities – both of which are almost necessary for any Premier League attacker.
However, Newcastle could face difficulty in finding a proper attacking midfielder in January and therefore, signing Miguel Almiron is a gamble they definitely need to take as they look to make a swift recovery in the second half of the campaign.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
