Mike Ashley tells Atlanta Utd the best price he's willing to pay for Miguel Almiron - Report
According to the Northern Echo's Scott Wilson, Newcastle's hierarchy have told Atlanta United that they won't be paying more than £15.5m for Miguel Almiron - a fee almost £10m short of the MLS club's asking pice.
This just sums up our approach to 'big money' deals, doesn't it. Just like our 'attempt' to sign Feyenoord's Nicolai Jorgensen this time last year, our offer is nowhere near the selling club's asking price.
He's someone who could given us the much needed boost we so desperately need as we head into the second half of the season in the relegation zone, but this alleged offer suggests we are not serious about signing him.
Here's a snippet from the Northern Echo's piece:
Atlanta United are adamant they will not be selling Almiron for less than £25m, but the Newcastle hierarchy have told their counterparts at the MLS side that they value the 24-year-old at $20m (around £15.5m).
Mike Ashley is notoriously loath to engage in a bidding war by increasing his club’s original offer for anyone, and despite Almiron having agreed the framework of a personal wage arrangement with the Magpies, Newcastle officials have told the Atlanta board they will not be shifting their stance.
That would kill off any prospect of Almiron moving to Tyneside before the transfer window closes at the end of the month as there is no financial imperative for Atlanta to agree to a deal.
What's worse, this is a player who's quite clearly Rafa's top target and someone we've spent time and money scouting for months on end now - with the Chronicle recently reporting that we've sent scouts to watch him in America on countless occasions.
Asking price? £25m. Offer? £15m. If there was a line that summed up Ashley's 'attempt' to break our club record fee over the last few years, that would be it.
