An update has emerged on Newcastle United gem Miguel Almiron and his future beyond the summer transfer window...

What's the talk?

Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that the Paraguay international may be on his way out of Tyneside before the deadline.

When asked about Everton potentially swooping for the winger, he told GIVEMESPORT: “There is some interest here and Almiron looks certain to be leaving Newcastle.

“Everton need options and he’s one that they’ve got on their radar just in case it can happen.”

A big mistake?

Letting the diminutive playmaker depart this summer could be a mistake by the Toon hierarchy as Almiron has enjoyed an impressive start to the 2022/23 campaign.

He has started all four of the club's Premier League matches and averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.97 - scoring one goal and creating three chances in that time. The Paraguayan ranks ninth in the squad in terms of average ratings, sitting above the likes of Sven Botman, Calum Wilson, and Joe Willock.

This shows that he is currently an important member of the team as the manager is selecting him week-in-week-out so far this term.

Whilst the attacker still has a long way to go before he can say that he is proven in the final third, with two goals and zero assists since the start of 2021/22, Almiron offers a lot of value to the team in his work off the ball.

Howe wants his team to press high and aggressively and this is where the former MLS man earns his corn. He ranks in the 87th percentile among players in his position in Europe's top five leagues over the last 365 days for pressures per 90 with 20.92.

The £74k-per-week gem also ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles per 90 with 2.73 and the 83rd percentile for interceptions with 1.36. This shows that his pressing leads to him making defensive actions, which can then either break up opposition attacks or create counter-attacking chances for his own team.

These statistics illustrate how important he is to the way that Howe wants his Newcastle side to play out of possession, especially when you factor in the current back-up to his position.

Ryan Fraser is the second choice on the right and ranks in the 7th, 12th, and 52nd percentiles for pressures, tackles, and interceptions respectively. The Scotland international has not been able to put in the work that Almiron has off the ball and, therefore, would be a downgrade on the 28-year-old.

Howe should now be frustrated by the prospect of the former Atlanta man moving on in the coming days and will be hoping that he remains on Tyneside. It could well be a late blunder this summer to let him depart.