Report: Newcastle balk at Miguel Almiron's wage expectation

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report

UPDATE, Jan. 9: Citing a radio appearance by Almiron's agent, Daniel Campos, The Guardian reported that Newcastle have been told they must increase their offer to Atlanta in order to secure the playmaker's services:

“There are two to three clubs in England that have interest in him, but we haven’t advanced a lot yet,” Campos told Paraguayan outlet ABC Cardinal. “If Newcastle raise their offers, they could be one of the clubs, but there are other clubs. There are clubs from England, Germany, Italy and Spain that are interested in Miguel Almiron, but we aren’t going to rush things.

“With Newcastle, I spoke about the player’s salary, but the club needs to raise their offers with Atlanta if they want to get the player. Miguel Almiron’s value is high, it’s not for just any club to sign him.”

We're eight days into the European January transfer window, but Miguel Almiron remains an Atlanta United player. 

Reports haven't run as wild as expected since the calendar turned to 2019, with only Newcastle being strongly linked to the player while Real Betis is also rumored to have joined the chase. What gives?

According to a report from Lee Ryder of The Chronicle, Newcastle have balked at Almiron's wage expectations during negotiations. His representation is said to be seeking £100,000 (approximately US$127,500) per week, per Ryder, which would make him the Magpies' highest-paid player "by some margin."

The latest report on the Almiron-to-Newcastle saga comes just over a week after the English club was rumored to be out of the running to sign the player due an inability to strike a deal on a transfer fee for the 2018 MVP finalist.

Almiron, 24, tallied 12 goals and 14 assists in 31 games this season and overcame a hamstring injury to return in time for the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, where he helped lead his club to an MLS Cup triumph.