The Chronicle's Lee Ryder has delivered an update on Miguel Almiron's future at Newcastle United amid speculation he could be set to leave St James' Park in the summer transfer window...

What's the story?

Comments from his agent last month revealed that there is interest from clubs in both Italy and Spain over the Paraguay international, and that they would see what the future holds come June.

Now, Ryder has claimed that Newcastle could be willing to sell at less than his release clause, and that the club are actively looking to sign a new winger in the summer.

Almiron's time is up

With a record of just 13 goals and five assists in 111 games for Newcastle, Almiron hasn't shown anything like the kind of form that would suggest he's someone who could play a part in this new PIF era at St James' Park.

Having signed for club-record fee of £20m, the Paraguayan has struggled to adjust to the demands of the Premier League, and while the work ethic on the pitch can never be questioned, his end product can be.

Now recently turned 28, Almiron has endured yet another difficult campaign thus far, scoring no goals and providing no assists whatsoever in the 20 games that he has played across all competitions.

Even speaking a couple of years ago, former Premier League defender Danny Mills called into question what Almiron brought to the table, saying: "That’s the problem, he’s working very, very hard but he’s in the team to be creative, he’s in the team to create chances and to score goals. He’s not doing it. To work hard is normal, to work hard is mandatory. That’s the very, very least every player should be doing.

"You get put in a team as a defender to stop the opposition scoring.  You get put in as a defensive midfielder to break things up, you get put in as a striker to score goals, you get put in as a creative midfielder to create chances and score goals – he’s not doing that."

With his agent seemingly indicating that his client has interest from elsewhere, Howe has the perfect chance to get rid of someone who doesn't fit the project going forward.

The £75k-a-week earning ace has simply run his course at St James' Park, and it's high time the Magpies cut their losses on him this summer.

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