Premier League star heading to Saudi Pro League with ‘agreement reached’

Robin Bairner

• 22 Jan 2024 11:02 GMT
• 2 min read

Newcastle and Al-Shabab have reached an agreement for Miguel Almiron to sign for the Saudi Pro League team, according to football transfer expert Ben Jacobs.

The Saudi Pro League has received a hail of poor publicity during the January transfer window with a string of leading players reportedly unsettled in the big-spending division, while the anticipated trend of stars moving to the Middle East has stalled.

Al-Hilal midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is the latest player to reportedly voice his unhappiness with a switch to Saudi, joining the likes of Karim Benzema and Roberto Firmino in lamenting his decision to move to the country. Jordan Henderson has already departed for Ajax after a frustrating spell at Al-Ettifaq.

“It's a big change compared to Europe, but in the end it's all adaptation. They haven't made it easy for us,” Aymeric Laporte said in quotes he later distanced himself from. “In fact, there are many players who are dissatisfied.”

According to Jacobs, though, the trend could be bucked as Almiron closes in on a switch to Al-Shabab, who are 11th in the Saudi Pro League table.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, he reports: “Al-Shabab and Newcastle have reached a provisional agreement over Miguel Almiron. It's understood Almiron is open to the move, but the deal is not done yet.”

Why Newcastle are selling Almiron

Newcastle are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), who also own the four leading Pro League clubs, yet Al-Shabab are not one of those it has a stake in.

Nevertheless, it is in the PIF’s interest to make the division as attractive as possible, and that means strengthening the middle-ranking sides like Al-Shabab.

A deal should, therefore, be relatively easy to broker for the Paraguay international.

What’s more, Newcastle are working under Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions and are believed to need to sell one or two leading players. Almiron is seen as one of their most expendable stars.

Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak have both been linked with sensational big-money moves away from St James’ Park, but it is possible that if Almiron leaves for an inflated price to a sympathetic club, Newcastle will be able to retain their leading stars and perhaps bolster Eddie Howe’s injury-ravaged squad before the end of the January transfer window.