With the World Cup kicking off in Qatar this weekend, the mid-season break will hand Eddie Howe, Dan Ashworth and other member of our transfer committee to discuss our January plans.
Over the summer, it was regularly reported that we were in the market for a right-sided attacker, with the club trying and failing to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby and Leicester City star James Maddison.
Diaby seemed content on staying in Germany – where he was set to play Champions League football – and we never got closer to their alleged £50m asking price.
We then failed with a £40m bid for Maddison, who was valued at closer to £60m by the Foxes, according to Sky Sports. Other wingers were then linked, with mini sagas involving Jack Harrison, Anthony Gordon, Maxwell Cornet, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic all coming to nothing.
Fast forward a few months and some would say our inability to land any of the above has been a blessing in disguise. Why? It’s been the making of Miguel Almiron.
The Paraguayan has gone from a hard-working squad man tipped to leave to a first-team star who can’t stop scoring, bagging eight goals already this season. If we’re being honest, I don’t think anyone saw this coming, even if he impress over pre-season!
After 15 games, no Premier League winger has scored more than Miggy, who has outshone the likes of Mo Salah, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.
With that and his array of October awards in mind, are we really in a position to bring in a marquee signing that would threaten his place in Eddie Howe’s XI in January?!
It’s a tough one. Do I think James Maddison is a better player than Miguel Almiron? I do. I also feel we lack strength in depth in wide areas, as the likes of Jacob Murphy has featured in all 15 of our Premier League games this season, yet remains a level below what’s needed; especially if we wish to be competing for European football!
It is also worth noting that Almiron turns 29 in a few months time, meaning his value, pace and endless energy could be on the decline in the coming years. Now, that’s not to say we should be selling him soon, but we certainly shouldn’t scrap the right-sided recruitment plans we had just a few months ago.
It does, however, make our next steps much tougher to decide upon. If Almiron is now a key player and set for talks over a new contract (as per The Telegraph), will our new owners still pay big money for the likes of Maddison or Diaby in 2023?
Perhaps we’ll shift our focus to younger options in this position and recruit a future star who can replace Almiron over the coming years, or take our time, assess Miggy’s form over the remainder of the season and sign a proven operator able to compete with him next season.
Brazil are tipped to be the big winners in Qatar at the best gambling sites, but there’ll be a host of exciting talent on display that Toon scouts will be keeping an eye on.
Almiron’s stunning run of form has created a welcome problem at St James’ Park. It’ll be fascinating to see how our transfer committee tackle an area of the team we were all set to transform over the summer!
Maddison is not a Right winger. Miggy’s place is not under threat from Maddison.
Maddison would play alongside Bruno
Our four wingers would be Maxi, Miggy, Big Joe and Diaby if we bought him
Our AM would be Bruno, Maddison, Little Joe and Big Joe
Our DM is currently Shelvey or Longstaff
PremAndUp(Quote)
He’s been playing on the right for Leicester for a while now, and he’s been brilliant there.
OK, he often played as a number 10 before that could play as part of a midfield three, but I’m pretty sure we saw him as a right-sided attacker who could cut in (while Trippier offers width)
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
I know hes playing there, and has that versatility, but that’s not his best position.
For us we would play a front five of Wilson with Maxi, Bruno, Maddison, Miggy.
PremAndUp(Quote)