Newcastle’s £21m man urged to leave St James as international boss ‘hopes’ for January exit

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As ever, the January transfer window offers the opportunity for talented footballers who have fallen out of favour – such as those at Premier League outfits Newcastle United and Brighton – to pursue a fresh start.

And, with Newcastle’s £21 million man and the Brighton whizzkid both struggling for regular game-time this season, no wonder their national team boss is looking forward to the opening of the winter window.

Paraguay are already up against it in their World Cup qualifying campaign. The South American national are sixth in a ten-team table, albeit only one place and one point behind an underperforming Brazil.

And their hopes of securing a place at the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico have not been aided by the lack of opportunities afforded to both Miguel Almiron and Julio Enciso, arguably their two stand-out players, at club level.

One of the longest-serving members of Eddie Howe’s squad, Miguel Almiron could leave St James’ Park after playing only 119 minutes of Premier League football this season.

One of the most divisive, opinion splitting footballers in The Magpies’ recent history has started only once in the top-flight. He did not even get off the bench for five straight matches before his late introduction in Saturday’s collapse at Brentford.

Enciso, meanwhile, hasn’t featured at all since October.

Paraguay boss keen for Miguel Almiron to leave Newcastle United

Perhaps the biggest loser of Roberto de Zerbi’s departure, and the subsequent appointment of Fabian Hurzeler, Enciso left no one in any doubt about his frustrations after he was left out of Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City.

‘Let no one extinguish your desire to achieve your dreams,’ Enciso wrote on social media, seemingly a less-than subtle hint at his unhappiness under Hurzeler.

Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay’s head coach, has spoken to Enciso about his situation at The Amex. And he hopes that, with the January window now just three weeks away, there will be a solution provided to the problems facing Enciso and Almiron early in the New Year.

“I was talking to Julio about everything that happened. He knew this was coming. He knew because he spoke to the [Brighton] coach, and because the coach expressed his point of view,” Alfaro tells ABC News.

“We talked [about Enciso having] the chance to leave. So, I hope he can find a place where he can have continuity. The same goes for Miguel.

“We have to wait in these next couple of weeks. They can be important because they can define things. It can also happen that the player wants a change of scenery, and the coach doesn’t want to let him leave, or the club does not want to loan him out.”

Newcastle eye Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche as MLS return beckons for Almiron

In the case of Almiron, Newcastle are unlikely to stand in the former Atlanta United star’s way.

TBR understands that Newcastle made Almiron, Kieran Tripper and Callum Wilson available. Almiron could return to the MLS, though there is also interest in him from River Plate, Boca Juniors and Brazilian giants Palmeiras, even if his £60,000-a-week wages may be a problem.

Newcastle are looking at Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche as a potential replacement. Sporting director Paul Mitchell knows the France Under-21 international well from his time working at the Ligue 1 outfit.

Enciso, meanwhile, has slipped behind £40 million summer signing Georginio Rutter in Brighton’s pecking order.

Alfaro would rather the former Libertad starlet remain on this side of the Atlantic, however.

“Brighton needs Julio to get some minutes,” Alfaro adds. “And I think that, between the agent and everything else, we will try to get him the chance to stay in Europe to get minutes and have continuity.

“He is a very important player [for Paraguay]. The more minutes he gets, the better he will perform.”