Benitez’s comments indicate Newcastle can sign Almiron amid new takeover talk

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Newcastle United fans are no doubt cheered by reports that Mike Ashley is in fresh talks over ceding control of the club, but their timing does throw the Magpies’ ability to do January business into doubt.

Rafa Benitez has insisted that it is business as usual as far as he’s concerned and that his January transfer plans remain unaffected despite the uncertain state of affairs behind the scenes.

He said: “It is business as usual. We will continue to work with the same ideas. This does not change anything. We have to be ready for January 1.”

It has been widely rumoured that those January ‘ideas’ involve Miguel Almiron of Atlanta United, who is widely thought to be the best player in MLS.

Benitez’s comments indicate that there is no reason for Newcastle’s fans to fear their plans to land Almiron will take a hit due to the timing of Ashley’s talks over selling the club.

Perhaps if a takeover is completed by January, the new regime will be even keener to sign Almiron as an early signal of their intent but at the very least, Benitez seems confident that uncertainty off the pitch need not affect his plans to improve Newcastle on it.