Newcastle Frustrated In Almiron pursuit

Miguel Almiron’s possible January move to Newcastle could be off due to the Atlanta United playmaker’s wage demands, reports say.

The Paraguay international is believed to be Toon boss Rafa Benitez’s top transfer target this month but a deal is far from certain.

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Benitez knows he faces a tough task trying to persuade owner Mike Ashley to pay the £25million asking price, which would smash the club’s record transfer, while the player’s personal demands are also a major stumbling block.

Reports say the 24-year-old has requested a pay package that is way beyond what Newcastle are prepared to sanction and, as things stand, there is no prospect of a breakthrough in negotiations.

Atlanta president Darren Eales is prepared to sell Almiron but the MLS club want a hefty fee and with Ashley keen to sell the Magpies it could mean the deal falls flat.

Newcastle fan groups wrote an open letter to Ashley at the start of the year pleading with him to invest funds into new players in order to ensure their Premier League survival in the second half of the season, while Benitez is known to have put in a list of targets he wants to sign this month.