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Miguel Almiron's father has claimed that Newcastle United are in the box seat to sign his son in the January transfer window.

United's head of recruitment Steve Nickson jetted out to the States last week to speak to Almiron's agents to hold talks on the Atlanta United star's next move.

Since then Atlanta supremo Darren Eales stated only a "serious offer" for the player would be considered.

Rafa Benitez played down suggestions last week that a deal was in place for Almiron, but there IS a big interest in the player behind the scenes at Newcastle - and it will be down to whether Mike Ashley sanctions a deal that could amount to a cool £25million.

Ruben Almiron, speaking to the media in South America, said: "He will definitely go to England, what’s left to be decided is to what club but Newcastle is the one with the advantage."

Eales said last week: "I have seen some laughable things in the press, clearly we are never going to loan one of our players out and we are certainly not going to let them go for the 'chump change' that I have seen in some reports."

Benitez's last update on Almiron was: "I could hear somebody made an offer but we haven't.

"I don’t talk about players."