NUFC now 'ready to break transfer record' on exciting no.10 - but there's one big issue - Report
According to the Chronicle's Lee Ryder, Newcastle are prepared to break their transfer record to sign Miguel Almiron - however the player's £100,000 per week wage demands could scupper the deal.
It's been reported for some time now that the MLS playmaker is Rafa Benitez number one target this month, with head of recruitment Steve Nickson flying out to the US late last year to negotiate a deal.
The big issue looked like it was the fact Atlanta Utd were demanding in excess of £20m - the sort of fee Ashley just does not pay - but it's now being suggested that excessive wage demands and agent fees are the main reason a deal hasn't happened:
I can't lie, I'm struggling to believe this. Maybe they are pushing their luck and trying to get Almiron and his agent a huge wage packet, but I find it hard to believe that Ashley is willing to spend in excess of £17m.
That said, I'd argue £100,000 isn't a huge amount of money anymore. If you pay £20m plus for a player, they're likely to demand big money. After all, I'm pretty sure he'd be offered this money elsewhere if the likes of Everton or West Ham were involved.
It's the idea we're 'prepared' to pay big that I'm strugglign with, mind. Is this really what Ashley is ready to do? History suggests no - especially when he's meant to be negotiating a deal to sell the club.
Time will tell, but this could just be a convenient way of spinning it so they can say 'we tried'.
