Newcastle United were among a group of clubs to send scouts to watch Porto’s clash with Braga last night.
That’s according to A Bola, who say the Magpies were one of seventeen sides to have send observers to the clash, which Porto won 4-1.
There is no mention of who the clubs were there to scout on the evening, but for Newcastle it was likely to be Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
They were linked with his signature throughout the transfer window and earlier this month it was reported they were still keen on him despite signing Nick Pope from Burnley.
Jornal de Noticias reported that they were ‘continuing to pay attention’ to the goalkeeper ahead of the January transfer window, even sending scouts to watch him in June. It’s likely those scouting missions are continuing and this was one of them.
An alternative target for their attention could have been Braga’s Ricardo Horta, who has been linked with Newcastle in the past as well.
He’s not as new a target as Costa, with the last serious link coming via A Bola in February 2020. There’s been some significant changes at St James Park since then, but perhaps Horta remains on the list of players they’re keeping an eye on.
Either way, the Magpies had someone in attendance at the Dragao last night, so unless they were there just to enjoy Friday night football in Portugal, there is someone they’re interested in.
