Eddie Howe Issues ‘Dangerous’ Transfer Warning to Paul Mitchell Amid Newcastle United Deal

Eddie Howe has already issued a transfer warning to sporting director Paul Mitchell as Newcastle United considers selling winger Miguel Almiron.

The Paraguayan is on the verge of returning to Atlanta United, with an emotional reunion expected in the coming days.

Almiron, who joined Newcastle from Atlanta six years ago, is preparing for the move as the final details of the deal are ironed out.

Almiron was an unused substitute in Newcastle’s 4-1 loss to Bournemouth over the weekend and has seen limited playing time recently.

His appearances have been brief, coming off the bench against Arsenal and Wolves, and starting in the cup match against Bromley.

This has seen him fall down the pecking order under Howe’s management.

Currently, Almiron is enjoying some time off with family but is ready to fly to the United States as Atlanta finalizes the deal for the 30-year-old.

Newcastle is reportedly set to allow his departure for a fee of $12m (£10m), despite Howe’s reluctance to let go of the Paraguayan international, particularly given Newcastle’s current PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) situation, which limits their spending this month.

The sentiment among those close to Newcastle’s board is that Almiron won’t be replaced, and the funds from his sale will likely be saved for a summer transfer budget.

While this move may provide crucial funds in light of the club’s ongoing financial challenges, Howe is concerned about his squad’s depth, which is already looking thin.

“It’s not ideal,” Howe commented when asked about Almiron last week. “But I don’t think it’s ideal from anyone’s viewpoint.

We don’t want to lose players, but we also know there is a reality to PSR and managing that situation.

Sometimes, the decisions we make are based not on football, but on future considerations.”

Howe is no stranger to such financial decisions.

Back in 2023, while Newcastle was vying for a Champions League spot and competing for a place in the Carabao Cup final—positions very similar to their current situation—the club decided to sell striker Chris Wood to Nottingham Forest for £15 million.

This move left Howe worried about the lack of depth in his attack, especially with the club facing critical fixtures.

“I was concerned about the strength in depth up front,” Howe admitted at the time.

“It was a difficult decision because we had to consider the player’s wishes, but financially, it was a very good deal for the club.

We were planning to replace him, and there was no thought of letting someone like Chris Wood go without bringing in a replacement.

That would have left us dangerously short, but there are no guarantees, and that’s the situation we’re in.”

Howe’s cautious approach reflects the ongoing balancing act Newcastle faces between financial constraints and the need to maintain a competitive squad.