Newcastle have recently been linked with a move to sign Josef Martinez from Atlanta United.
According to Chronicle Live, the Magpies are monitoring the striker, who is valued at £15.75m, ahead of a potential move and it’s a signing that could have huge benefits for Miguel Almiron.
Prior to his £21 million move (BBC) to join Newcastle, the pair lined up alongside one another for Atlanta and formed one of the most dangerous attacks in the MLS. As shown on Atlanta’s official website, you only have to look at some of the highlights of the two playing together to see the relationship they have. Not to mention their famous Dragon Ball Z inspired ‘Fusion’ celebration.
Josef Martinez uses his first goal celebration of 2019 as a tribute to former @ATLUTD teammate Miguel Almiron. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/UYyx8BVeml
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) March 1, 2019
During his time at Atlanta, Almiron would often find space on the left wing before delivering a pin-point cross for Martinez to dispatch. In 2018, the pair were the two highest ranked players for expected goals and assists throughout the entire MLS (ASA).
Between them, they scored a combined 43 goals and also registered an impressive 18 assists during the 2017/18 MLS campaign (transfermarkt).
After seeing the links to Martinez, one concern Newcastle supporters might raise is the slow start that Almiron made after joining the club. He has scored just four times in England so far (transfermarkt) and it’s only recently that Steve Bruce’s side are beginning to see the Paraguayan somewhere near his best, with three goals in his last five appearances (WhoScored).
The hope would be that playing alongside a forward that he has such a strong understanding with could not only bring the best out of him but also help Martinez settle much quicker if a deal were to happen, despite not playing in European football since leaving Torino in 2017 (ESPN).
