NEWCASTLE UNITED are adamant they do not have to sell a player this month, but Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab remain hopeful of prising Miguel Almiron out of St James’ Park ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.

While the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules mean the Magpies will almost certainly have to cash in on one of their leading assets if they want to make signings of their own, there is not a financial necessity to raise funds this month unless they are to be invested elsewhere.

As a result, while Newcastle have received offers for both Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson in the last week, with Bayern Munich hoping to sign the former and Atletico Madrid interested in a loan deal for the latter, the message from the very top at St James’ Park is that neither player is for sale.

Almiron’s situation is less clear-cut, although as things stand, there is not a deal in place that would lead to the Paraguayan leaving Tyneside this month.

Almiron is happy and settled with Newcastle, and does not want to leave, while Eddie Howe does not want to lose a player who is regarded as hugely influential to the way the Magpies press aggressively high up the pitch.

Al-Shabab’s interest has created an element of uncertainty, though, with the Saudi Pro League club potentially able to offer the kind of sum that the Newcastle hierarchy could find hard to turn down for a player who will turn 30 next month.

READ MORE:

Al-Shabab, who are not one of the Saudi clubs majority owned by PIF, are yet to make a formal offer for Almiron, but their interest is understood to be genuine and they are considering their options ahead of the final week of the window.

If Newcastle were to accept a Saudi offer, then as was the case with Allan Saint-Maximin, the transfer would have to be signed off by the Premier League to ensure it represented ‘fair value’ for FFP calculations.