According to Portuguese paper A Bola (and several Algerian outlets today), Rafa Benitez is a big fan of Porto playmaker Yacine Brahimi and is keen to bring the 28-year-old to St James’ Park this summer.
As we learned from the whole Ruben Semedo fiasco last summer (the ex-Lisbon centre-back who as ‘all set’ for a NUFC move at one point), claims from Portugal must be met with a pinch of salt – and this one falls well within that category.
Brahimi has been impressing in the Portuguese league for several seasons now and is linked with a big money move to the Premier League just about every single transfer window.
The Paris-bon Algerian international has 11 goals and 10 assists so far this season, with 40 goals and 34 assists in just over 150 games for Portuguese giants Porto.
He predominantly plays as a left-winger (an unlikely alternative for Kenedy if we fail to sign him this summer?), but has also been used as a number 10 over his career – a problem position for Newcastle which needs addressing this summer.
Several papers this morning linking Yacine Brahimi to #NUFC. "A Bola", "DZ Foot", "Le Beutur" and "Competition DZ" are all angling the story one way or the other. But #NUFC are interested at the very least.
— NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) April 27, 2018
Having been linked with £30m moves to Everton and Arsenal in recent years, it’s fair to say we’d have to smash our transfer record to sign him – making this one seem all the more unlikely.
Exciting to hear, but a big pinch of salt is needed with this story.
Here’s what’s being claimed from the various ‘sources’ across Portugal and Algeria today (as displayed below by Sport Witness):
