NEWCASTLE UNITED target Miguel Almiron was watched by the club when he appeared for Atlanta United last weekend.

The Magpies were represented as Almiron scored one of Atlanta’s goals in a 3-1 win over New York City in the Eastern Conference.

Newcastle’s interest in the Paraguayan playmaker has emerged over the last few days and The Northern Echo can reveal that he was watched and impressed too.

The 24-year-old’s agent was at St James’ Park to watch Newcastle’s victory over Bournemouth.

And then the Premier League club followed that up by heading to Georgia to watch him and are expected to make a move for him in the January window.

Almiron has scored 13 times and recorded 13 assists this season and has been named in the MLS All Star and MLS XI teams. Arsenal and Tottenham are also keen.

He has appeared 13 times for his country and Rafa Benitez has been keen to learn more about him.

Newcastle are looking for improved attacking options after a poor start to the season which has taken a turn for the better in recent weeks with back-to-back victories.

Ayoze Perez, who has been booed at times by fans, is the preferred man to play in the No 10 role while Yoshinori Muto can also operate there.

Benitez – who has also been linked again with Stoke left-back Erik Pieters – wants to add to his squad in the new year.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has been a regular at Newcastle matches in recent months and offered his congratulations to Benitez and the players after the recent victories.

Ashley is still believed to be open to offers for the club and there has been interested consortia. While there has been a lot of number-crunching, though, there has been no takers for the asking price – between £300-400m – so far.

When Ashley took Benitez and the Newcastle squad out for dinner September, he suggested that he was focused on keeping the club up and not thinking about selling this season. He also wants the Spaniard to remain in charge.

Benitez has put talks about his contract on hold until he has seen the extent of the club’s ambition.