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Miguel Almiron is a name that has become a regular feature of Premier League transfer gossip columns of late.

The Atlanta United attacking midfielder has been linked with a January move to England with Arsenal, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United all said to be keeping an eye on the 24-year-old Paraguayan.

He has already captivated fans of Major League Soccer with his skills, a competition that is still too easily written off by its critics on the other side of the Atlantic.

With Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic still using the top division of US soccer to prolong their careers after falling off the pace in the Premier League, and memories of Jozy Altidore's struggles at Sunderland still fresh in the mind, success in American is often met with scepticism when moves to Europe are talked up

Almiron is an MLS star who can push against such assumptions but who is the £15million-rated midfielder and what do fans need to know about his game?

Who is Miguel Almiron?

Born in Asuncion, Paraguay, Almiron joined the youth ranks of local club Cerro Porteno in 2008. Five years later he made a goal scoring debut for the first-team during a match against Club Rubio Nu in the Paraguayan Primera Division.

Although the club won the Torneo Clausura that year Almiron's involvement was brief, and confined to just six appearances.

He was more involved during the club's Torneo Apertura success in 2015, playing 19 games and scoring five goals. That form attracted interest from Argentina, and in August 2015 he moved to Lanus to work with Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

It was during that same year he made his senior bow for Paraguay's national team under the guidance of Ramon Diaz.

Introduced slowly at Lanus, Almiron began to make a major impact at the club in 2016 when he helped Lanus lift the Primera Division title.

By the end of the year Almiron was being strongly linked with a move to the Premier League, but instead joined Atlanta United ahead of their inaugural season in MLS.

Described as the "heartbeat" of the team by teammate Jeff Larentowicz, during two seasons and 62 games in MLS the Paraguayan has produced 21 goals and 28 assists, while also helping Atlanta to reach the playoffs.

Where does Miguel Almiron play?

One of Almiron's biggest assets is his positional versatility.

The 24-year-old is comfortable on either wing or centrally behind a lone striker.

Although his slight frame may lead you to think he works best out wide he actually thrives more in a central area as it affords him more space.

Miguel Almiron's strengths

When asked what makes Almiron special his teammate at Atlanta United, Michael Parkhurst, told football.london : "Miguel has the ability to break open a defence by himself.

"He has incredible quickness and speed in order to get away from defenders. He is so technically good on the ball that when we're at the back we can play the ball into his feet and he's able to turn a guy. Once he turns, he explodes, and no one can stay with him.

(Image: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

He just accelerates like no one I've ever seen with the ball, and that immediately puts pressure on the opposition back line and relieves pressure for us.

"He's also very good at finding spaces in between the lines, and recognising where the space is. Whether that's in front of the backline, or down gaps in the channels, he's able to find those spaces and he combines very well with Josef [Martinez] especially."

To define Almiron purely as an attack-minded player, however, would ignore his development in Atlanta. Tata Martino described him as an 'atypical No. 10' because of his defensive contributions, and it's an assessment that Parkhurst agrees with.

"His performances are more mature now," Parkhurst said when asked how Almiron has developed since arriving in Atlanta. "I think his defensive work this year has been amazing. He does a lot defensively for us. He's not just your typical No. 10 that turns off and waits for the counter-attack. I think he's capable of playing at a very high level."

Miguel Almiron's weaknesses

Although Almiron only has a few weaknesses they are not to be ignored. The most obvious relates to the level of competition he has faced so far in his career.

As former FC Dallas defender and current MLSsoccer.com pundit Bobby Warshaw explained to football.london:

"The question I'd have on Almiron' ability to step into the Premier League or Serie A, in the perspective of the world's elite, would probably be his general 'quality'.

"Starters for Arsenal or Tottenham are incredibly good on the ball and lethal around the box. Almiron is amazing on the ball, but it's unclear if he's at Eriksen or Lamela or Ozil's level. Few in the world are.

"I wouldn't say Almiron has any weaknesses, but it's still uncertain whether he's just as good as those top, players."

Meanwhile, others have expressed concern that Almiron can at times be one-footed and questioned how well he will handle the physical style and pace of English football.

Where would Miguel Almiron fit in the Premier League?

Arsenal

Unai Emery's side have been heavily linked with a move for Almiron, and it's easy to see why.

The expected departure of Aaron Ramsey next summer intensifies the need for Arsenal to add a creative midfielder that can score goals, and in Almiron, they may have the perfect low-risk option.

Almiron would fit neatly into Emery's 4-2-3-1 formation, both out wide or behind the team's lead striker. He would not unseat Mesut Ozil but he would give Arsenal a more defensively aware option at No. 10, even if he does not possess the German's level of creativity, and out wide he could add to the Spaniard's options alongside Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Tottenham Hotspur

The summer transfer window was a frustrating time for Spurs fans as their club refused to do any business. No one is expecting a drastic change come January, but a move for 'Almirante' may make sense.

The Paraguayan has certain similarities with Erik Lamela, even if by comparison they are not identical.

(Image: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Almiron is quicker, if not as technically gifted as Lamela. The way Almiron plays for Atlanta resembles the role Angel Di Maria played during his final season at Real Madrid, as the driving force behind their Champions League win.

The fact he's versatile and willing to put in a defensive shift would tick many boxes for Mauricio Pochettino and given his price the midfielder would not be a huge risk for a club like Spurs, especially given their current dependence on players such as Christian Eriksen for inspiration, and for whom back ups are hard to find.

West Ham

Given Manuel Pellegrini preference of playing 4-1-4-1 this season Almiron would likely play in a wide right position with a view to drifting inside and creating. After the injury of Andriy Yarmolenko, the value of having another danger man to come inside from the flanks to get involved and create problems for the opposition should not be underestimated.

The absence of Manuel Lanzini through injury has also increased the need for creative reinforcements at West Ham, although the precarious nature of a deal for Samir Nasri only complicates matters. If David Gold and David Sullivan do decide to cancel a deal for the Frenchman and wait until January Almiron could be fit the bill as a signing to inject some creativity to West Ham's side.

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