Winger arrives at Aston Villa v Newcastle United as transfer decision confirmed

Miguel Almiron has been named on Newcastle United's bench for tonight's Premier League clash at Aston Villa.

The Paraguayan has attracted interest from Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab but his arrival in the Midlands all-but ends speculation over a January exit as the Saudi transfer window closes tonight.

Almiron missed Saturday's FA Cup fourth win at Fulham on Saturday night through illness, and while still not at 100 per-cent, trained at the club's Benton training base on Monday.

Retaining the 29-year-old's services will please United boss Eddie Howe. When asked what his ideal scenario is during the remaining days of the window, the 46-year-old said: “Keeping the squad intact, as the manager, trying to produce a team to win games would be the one for me.

"But we are guardians of the club’s future and we want to make the right decisions for the club. We don’t want to breach FFP. That is where I will support the decisions that are made for the long term and that will benefit the club.”

Almiron signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract at Newcastle in February last year during a season where he scored 11 goals. He has netted five times this term with his opener against Paris Saint-Germain seeing him become the first Newcastle player since Alan Shearer to score in the Champions League.

The interest from Saudi is likely to still stand in the summer. NewcastleWorld understands Allan Saint-Maximin's Al Ahli, who are one of four SPL clubs owed by Newcastle's majority owners PIF, are admirers of Almiron.

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