Miguel Almiron Newcastle United exit not without complications amid Saudi Arabia interest

Miguel Almiron continues to attract interest from Saudi Arabia but a Newcastle United exit this summer will be a complicated deal to pull off for those interested parties.

The winger was chased by Saudi side, Al Shabab, in the January window but stayed put on Tyneside after a firm offer failed to materialise. Almiron has always maintained he is content in the north east and Eddie Howe has seen him as a key member of his Newcastle squad in seasons gone by.

It is unlikely any deal will be agreed in the coming days with Almiron currently away with Paraguay at the Copa America. However, his country have lost their first two group games and will be heading home regardless of the result against Costa Rica in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

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Secondly, it will take a spectacular offer to persuade Almiron to depart St James' Park. The attacker is settled in the north east, with a young family and has never once pushed to secure an exit.

Speaking out ahead of the start of his Copa America campaign with Paraguay, Almiron again dropped a major hint he was fully committed to Newcastle and continuing at the club into next season, praising St James' Park, the fans and insisting he feels 'blessed' over his current club situation.

“When we play here [at St James’ Park], it feels like playing in your own backyard," Almiron told reporters in south America last month. "The city is like that too. They are very friendly people.

“I saw that from the beginning. When I arrived we had tough times but still people came and asked for autographs and supported you. I had never experienced that until I came here [to Newcastle United]. Now we have the Copa America, which for me is going to be very important.

“Not only for me but for my teammates as well and I think we are going to do well. As I always say, I am very grateful to the [Newcastle United] fans for the affection they showed me from the beginning. I feel blessed.”

Newcastle see Almiron as one of few sellable 'assets' this summer who could bring in a reasonable fee. That, however, does not mean Howe is keen to see the former MLS man depart - and any exit will be with a heavy heart for both parties.

When speculation swirled in January, Howe put his cards firmly on the table as Al-Shabab failed to meet the Magpies' valuation.

"What a person and professional he is - he's had a lot of speculation that's come from the media, but it's not affected him at all," the Newcastle boss said.

After selling Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson over the weekend, attention now turns to whether senior stars - including Almiron - are next to leave as the squad revamp takes shape at St James' Park.