Newcastle sources have told the Chronicle the deals to sign Atlanta United playmaker Miguel Almiron permanently for $27M – a club record – and Monaco left-back Antonio Barreca (£1M loan fee) on loan with an option to buy in the summer are going smoothly.
They have been shown around St. James’ Park and the Benton Training grounds and have met with Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez.
The club seem to be getting things ready for the announcement today.
Both look like signings Rafa desperately needed and at last the Newcastle hierarchy seem to be doing something to help the manager after two barren years in the transfer market – at least financially.
Miguel Almiron being shown around yesterday
But it’s all going to happen on the very last day of this January window.
Hopefully, Almiron can make an instant impact at Newcastle but the lad may need time to settle in.
And we will see how good Barreca is and at last Paul Dummett has a challenger for that left-back spot – something Rafa has wanted for a while.
Two other deals are possible today.
One is to sign 24-year-old Nantes left-winger Anthony Limbombe on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy him in the summer.
Negotiations are said to be at an advanced stage, and the player wants to play in the Premier League.
The other incoming deal that could happen is to sign 29-year-old holding midfielder Andreas Samaris of Benfica, whose contract runs out in the summer.
But there was news yesterday that Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira wants to keep him in Lisbon and is willing to offer him a new deal to stay at the club.
Of the four signings, this is the least important becasue presumably if he comes in, then Isaac Hayden will leave the club this month.
If we cannot get Samaris in today, Isaac will have to stay until the summer when Newcastle can sell him and bring in another player to replace him.
It would be excellent if we can get all four deals done, and two seem almost ready to be announced.
As far as Rafa is concerned, he will want as many new players in as possible today.
After the fantastic 2-1 win on Tuesday night against Manchester City, Newcastle moved up 3 places to 14th position.
If we can get these deals done – we will hopefully see a happy Rafa Benitez at his press conference tomorrow for the game at Wembley against Tottenham on Saturday.
Let’s hope it will all happen today – but it’s all very late – as usual.
Comments welcome.
21 comments so far
Jib
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:22 AM
Comment #1Snap – ha ha ha
RUNAWAY777
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:25 AM
Comment #2Come on toon get these deals done and dusted.
Bambams
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:27 AM
Comment #3Rafa at work early, Sky reporter at the training ground now.
If Hayden does leave he cant have done himself much harm with his game against City. What price do we think Ash will want ? £10 Million ?
Frank pingles come sock
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:28 AM
Comment #4It’s going to be interesting to see how all this pans out !
Is there a takeover in the offing if we push up the table ??
Will we have people interested in the summer to buy Ashley out ? As we had nothing last summer ???
Will Rafa sign a contract in Feb ??
1 year extension ??
Will he walk in the summer??
Will Ashley allow some actual real money signings in the summer if still in charge as I can see lots of other teams continuing to strengthen?
Will Rondon leave ?
We won’t be able to replace him with another 2 million loan ??
If Rafa signs a contract , will he walk if Ashley doesn’t back him??
Will we see another fakeover next Christmas??
Will any of the protests ever work ? Be successful??
My guess
Rafa signs 1 year extension mid February
Summer / we sign this left back we have on loan
Sign a winger
Sign a forward
Ashley stays
Average season (finish 13th )
Flirt with relegation
Cups 5th round !!!
Rafa leaves end of that year
kilcline
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:36 AM
Comment #5Wild cards should be:
Batashuyai
Jack Clarke (send Murphy the other way)
Tielemans
Limbombe
Loftus cheek
Think we will get the 2 though
Kilcline
RobLeenio
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:39 AM
Comment #6Who are the guys in the photo? I know the guy with grey hair is his agent, but what about the guy in front with the black overcoat? Don’t recognise him at all – new club representative? He was there when Miggy got off the chopper
Bambams
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:46 AM
Comment #7Frank
Good post mate, plenty food for thought…..
Had Ash bought Almiron out of his own huge cash stash, i think he would stay. If the Barclay Bank doc is legit, to me he is leaving the cost to someone else – I may be a mile off, maybe clutching at straws again, but there does not appear to be any money anywhere for signings which i hope means Ash has paid himself back a huge sum from his ‘ self inflicted relegation costly loan ‘ and this will hopefully reduce the huge fee he is asking.
Could be miles off Fella but i cant see any other reason to take a loan from a bank when we all know how much he has accrued over the last 12 months.
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:47 AM
Comment #8Brave move to show them around the world class (sorry – fit for purpose) training facilities / village hall
Not believing anything until the pic holding the scarf with Rafa by their side!
Jib
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:47 AM
Comment #9Please god not here
RobLeenio
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:47 AM
Comment #10Bambams, I agree with you – why change the way he works in terms of loans / funding now? It’s an odd one.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:49 AM
Comment #11https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jWuu1prAoo
That Limbombe really looks like a player !!
Possibly our second choice after trying to sign Martins?
Looks good though like a Sadio Mane kind of player pacy , direct and can use both feet
simon376
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:50 AM
Comment #12Rob, could they be the new Indian owners who someone mentioned a couple of weeks ago with £500 million bid or cash set aside?
Jib, yeah Carol is back here as part of the Shelvy to Westham deal
RobLeenio
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:51 AM
Comment #13Just on the above from me – you would expect someone from the club to escort Almiron and his agent around Toon while they get their bearings and to meet him off the chopper.
So, presumably at least one of those faces is a club employee, yet neither one is familiar to me.
Sorry to bang on.
RobLeenio
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:52 AM
Comment #14simon, who knows? No hints from Gav?
simon376
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:55 AM
Comment #15Rob, no unfortunately, don’t think he has much gen about that. He texted yesterday about the city game saying all we need next is Ashley out and Rafa to stay as should have enough to stay up
Mag :P
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:55 AM
Comment #16Limbombe, barreca and Limbombe will add some extra quality to the team.
Not sure about samaris of he ends up here but he will give great competition for places on midfield.
JP...from The Rock
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:57 AM
Comment #17We need a ST once/if all these players sign. Who do you reckon we could get probably a loan with option to buy in the summer.
Jib
Jan 31, 2019 at 8:57 AM
Comment #18Rob
Almiron has his personal agent , Daniel Campos who
flew over with him – he’s also with an agency – 4DSport
the owner of which is Pablo Ortiz – I think that’s him
Jib
Jan 31, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Comment #19Joint representation in S America is quite common
It could have been a factor in prolonging negotiations
Sav
Jan 31, 2019 at 9:41 AM
Comment #20The question is, has Ashley/Charnley done enough, quick enough and professionally enough to convince Rafa his immediate future (including 2019/2020 season) lies at SJP? Or have they just p*****d him off once too many with their lack of football ambition, shenanigans, lies and cynicism?
Frank pingles come sock
Jan 31, 2019 at 10:13 AM
Comment #21Bambams Robleenio
Fingers crossed !!
Would be the cherry on top if Ashley is soon to be gone !!