According to Portuguese outlet OJogo, Porto winger Yacine Brahimi is waiting for Newcastle and Everton to make formal offers to bring him to the Premier League this summer in a deal that would almost certainly smash our club transfer record.
As ever when we’re linked with big money signings, I’ll take things with a pinch of salt (especially from a Portuguese paper that had us set to sign Ruben Semedo last summer), however this isn’t the first time Brahimi’s been linked with a move to Tyneside.
Just last month it was reported in Algeria (Brahimi’s homeland), that Rafa was a big fan of the winger and keen to bring him to the Premier League.
This latest story from OJogo states that Roma hold strong interest in the winger, however the player is believed to be desperate to secure a move to the Premier League – and ourselves, Everton and newly promoted Wolves are all said to be keen.
One issue, and it’s a big one, is the price tag he’d more than likely command, with Porto likely to demand at least £20-£25m for his signature:
#fcporto want 30m euros (minimum) for Yacine Brahimi…#asroma interested but player wants PL move…
Report here says #efc & #nufc haven't firmed up their interesthttps://t.co/pXmDYWklJg
— Scouts in Attendance (@scoutsattending) May 23, 2018
He bagged 12 goals and 10 assists in Portugals last season, having racked up 40 goals and a further 34 assists in just over 150 games for Porto.
It’d be the sort of exciting and high quality signing we’ve been craving at NUFC for years, but unfortunately, deals like this feel like fantasy stuff for as long as Mike Ashley is in charge.
I’m waiting for Newcastle to make a record breaking move for me, but I expect I’ll be waiting a long time.
Brian(Quote)