Newcastle United have splashed the cash and splashed it well since the Saudi Public Investment Fund took over the club from the unpopular Mike Ashley just over a year ago. While the signings of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar that breathless fans speculated about on social media never transpired, the Magpies have recruited well.
Eddie Howe as manager was the first appointment the new owners got right. The on-pitch buys have been solid too. Bruno Guimaraes has made a mockery of every traditional big six club that overlooked him. Kieran Trippier looked like a terrace hero from minute one. Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Nick Pope lack that ‘Robinho to City’ glamour and are all the better for it.
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But there is an argument to be made that the biggest beneficiary of the change of emphasis at St James’ Park has been a player who was already on the books under Ashley. Miguel Almiron has undergone a transformation from ineffectual show-pony to crucial goal threat. Surrounding the gifted Paraguayan with quality has ignited his brilliant best.
Just look at some of the players he has outscored in the Premier League so far this season. Darwin Nunez, Marcus Rashford, Heung-min Son, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jamie Vardy, Mohamed Salah and Gabriel Martinelli. His five league goals this season are more than Jack Grealish has managed in his entire Manchester City tenure so far. All this for a man who had scored just nine times in the Premier League for Newcastle before this season, dating back to his signing in 2018/19.
The wide man was at it again this week. Almiron scored the only goal to seal three points against Everton. The result sees the Magpies sitting sixth in the Premier League table. With Newcastle aimlessly battling relegation under Steve Bruce when PIF came breezing in to St James’ Park, most fans were advocating a “rip it up and start again” approach. Understandably so. This team was misfiring badly and looked on course to slump into the second tier for the third time under Ashley’s stewardship.
While soon-to-be-ousted boss Bruce was a lightning rod for criticism, the players got their share of the blame too. Not least Almiron. Clearly talented but too often hesitant and wasteful, his one goal from 30 games last season saw him enter this summer at risk. While he offered moments of brilliance, there was just no persuasive argument for keeping an attacking player whose highest output in the Premier League was four goals.
Almiron has broken that barrier already and is showing no signs of stopping. Newcastle aren’t either. Howe has built his era on togetherness, hard work and no shortage of attacking quality. Almiron ticks all of those boxes and will be a vital part in the plans going forward.
Newcastle can bank on this being true because of their financial circumstances. In the past, a standout performer in this side would have been the subject of insurmountable interest from elsewhere. The Magpies under Ashley grew accustomed to their finest assets flying the coop when an attractive offer came in from elsewhere. But now, Newcastle can match any wages on offer at even the biggest clubs. They are also in a position where they offer upward mobility. Players are not signing on the dotted line for a relegation battle any more. The aims are far more ambitious than that. Howe and the owners see European football in the club’s future.
If Newcastle do maintain or improve their league position and end up playing on the continent next season, Almiron will have a new stage to shine on. If his form continues, it is a challenge he will surely relish. The St James’ Park faithful are finally seeing the best of a player who arrived from Atlanta United all those years ago. There’s a lot of shiny new toys at Newcastle, but it is one that already sat in the toy box who is putting smiles on Newcastle fans’ faces.
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