Mike Ashley will now prioritise securing Rafa Benitez’s future at Newcastle United after backing the manager by finally breaking the club’s 14-year transfer record.
Miguel Almiron arrived from Atlanta United on Thursday in a deal worth up to £21million with Benitez having told Ashley he was his No 1 target when the owner took the squad for dinner in October.
Benitez’s contract expires in the summer and he has so far stalled on the offer of a five-year deal and, more recently, a 12-month extension.
However, Sportsmail has been told that one option now being explored is a three-year offer with the promise of trying to build the club.