MLS star goes to Newcastle

LONDON (AP):

As the Premier League riches have soared, so has transfer spending by most clubs. Tottenham and Newcastle are exceptions.

After 14 years, Newcastle have finally broken its transfer record again. Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almirón joined from Atlanta United for a reported fee of more than £ 20 million (US$26 million) yesterday as the January transfer window closed.

Not even at his stingiest has Newcastle owner Mike Ashley failed to sign a single player across a Premier League season.

Tottenham, which is owned by British ­businessman Joe Lewis, achieved that feat by making no additions on Thursday. In doing so, Tottenham became the first team to fail to sign a player in the season’s two transfer windows since the system was introduced 16 years ago.

The cost of the new, delayed stadium is ­hampering manager Mauricio Pochettino’s ambitions in the transfer market. It is not ­always obvious on the pitch. Tottenham are only seven points behind leaders Liverpool and two ­behind the most expensively assembled squad of all time: Manchester City. Tottenham will also contest the upcoming round of 16 in the Champions League.

But with striker Harry Kane out injured until March, Tottenham had been linked with a move for Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea. Instead, the Belgium forward will spend the second half of the season on loan at Crystal Palace to help the south London club’s survival hopes and give some assistance still to Chelsea’s ambitions.

Batshuayi’s goals could have a key say on how the top four ends up, with Palace still to play Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham. Chelsea last week signed Gonzalo Higuain on loan from Juventus, but Liverpool and United made no additions over the last month.

There was a signing in north London ­yesterday. Denis Suarez joined Arsenal on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season, reuniting the versatile Spain midfielder with manager Unai Emery after working together at Sevilla in the 2014-15 season.

But deadline day passed without any blockbuster deals.

Since buying Newcastle in 2007, Ashley has refused to sanction a transfer costing in excess of the £16-million the club paid Real Madrid for England striker Michael Owen in 2005 amid fan protests.

That Ashley finally relented to sign Almirón underlines Newcastle’s belief in one of the star players in Major League Soccer (MLS). Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez targeted Almirón a year ago, before the playmaker helped lead Atlanta to the MLS Cup and was runner-up for the league’s MVP award after scoring 13 goals and assisting 13 more.

“I appreciate he has had to wait longer than he would have liked,” Newcastle managing ­director Lee Charnley said of Benitez. “I would like to thank Rafa for his patience in waiting for a player he has coveted for so long.”