Premier League: Newcastle United sign Miguel Almiron

Newcastle United have broken their transfer record to sign midfielder Miguel Almiron from Major League Soccer club Atlanta United. The Paraguay playmaker joins the Magpies for 20 million pounds, beating the 16 million pounds they paid for striker Michael Owen from Real Madrid in 2005. Almiron's move to Newcastle has also broken the MLS transfer record. Miguel Almiron joined Atlanta United in 2017 and led them to their first MLS Cup last season. He scored 21 goals in 62 matches for the American club and has been previously linked with a move to Premier League side Arsenal. He was one of only six players to record double figures for both goals and assists in Major League Soccer in 2018. "I'm very happy and eager to start and to meet my new team-mates," Almiron said. "The league is very competitive, this is a historic club, and Rafa Benitez himself were the main reasons why I am here now. I think it is a great responsibility, something beautiful for me, and I will try to offer the best I can to repay the trust the club put in me." The signing of Almiron signals a bit of a change in Newcastle's transfer policy, considering that last summer they signed five players for just over 20 million pounds (Martin Dubravka, Ki Sung-yueng, Fabian Schar, Yoshinori Mutu and Federico Fernandez). Earlier this month Newcastle fans urged club owner Mike Ashley to spend some money in order to reinforce the squad. "We were following Miguel Almiron for a while and we saw a player with some pace in attack who can play behind the striker," Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez said. "We have someone who can score goals and give assists. We know that MLS is a different challenge to the Premier League, but he has the potential to do what we are expecting and what we need. From talking to the lad, you can tell that he is really focused and wants to do well. He wants to be successful and he wants to help the team, to score goals and give assists if it is possible. His impact in MLS has been really good - he's been one of the best players this year - and hopefully he can give us more competition and more quality in the final third." On transfer deadline day Newcastle also signed defender Antonio Barreca on loan from Monaco until the end of the season. Newcastle United are currently 14th in the Premier League table and they are 1/10 at Bet365 to avoid relegation this season.