Newcastle United: Miguel Almiron to sign for club-record fee

Miguel Almiron helped Atlanta United win the MLS Cup in 2018

Newcastle United could be set to break their 14-year-old transfer record by signing Paraguay playmaker Miguel Almiron from MLS side Atlanta United.

The 24-year-old is travelling to Tyneside to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms.

Almiron is expected to cost Newcastle about £20m, breaking the previous record of £16m that was paid to Real Madrid for Michael Owen in 2005.

"Hopefully we can finish everything on Wednesday," said boss Rafael Benitez.

"I knew before the game we were doing some business, so hopefully we have some good news," added Benitez after his side's 2-1 win over Manchester City.

"We are working on some things. If we have good news tomorrow it's positive.

"It's not about a record signing, you have to do the right things to stay up."

Almiron, who has 13 caps, would be the Magpies' first signing of the January window.

He scored 13 goals last season as Atlanta won the MLS Cup for the first time.

The attacking midfielder has scored 21 goals in 62 league appearances in his career, having previously played for Cerro Porteno in his home country and Argentina's Lanus.