According to The Mirror, Newcastle United are one of the clubs interested in signing Sporting Lisbon ace Francisco Trincao this summer.
The Magpies are primed to have an exciting summer transfer window following their Carabao Cup final victory and will be undoubtedly in the market to improve the squad to provoke further success.
Following their historic victory over Liverpool at Wembley Stadium it means that they are the first team to confirm their spot in European football next season as they automatically qualify for the Conference League.
However, there is still an opportunity for Newcastle to qualify for either Europa League or even Champions League football in the remaining ten games of their Premier League season as they are in the thick of a race for Europe.
The North East giants are currently sixth in the Premier League with a game in hand over their competitors with only two points separating them from Chelsea in fourth, so there is still plenty of hard work to be done for Eddie Howe.
Indeed, qualifying for Champions League football would be a dream for the Magpies to mark an iconic season on Tyneside and if they could get over the line, it would open up huge opportunities for the club to progress and invest in the summer.
Sporting director Paul Mitchell will be already working hard to identify targets that can make a difference and improve the squad going forward as they add European football to their already hectic schedule.
The Mirror is now reporting that Newcastle have Sporting Lisbon star Francisco Trincao on their radar, but will need to compete with Manchester United and Barcelona for his signature this summer.
It is claimed that Man United boss Ruben Amorim is keen to snatch Trincao from his former club, while Barcelona have a buy-back clause to re-recruit their former player if they choose to ahead of next season.
It is further noted in the article that the Portugal international is rated at £30m, so Newcastle would need to consider whether it is a worthwhile investment long-term.
Should Newcastle sign Francisco Trincao?
There is no doubt that finding the long-term answer to completing the attacking threat will be a huge priority for Newcastle this summer, and Trincao could be a great option for them on the right flank.
Jacob Murphy is the only out-and-out right winger left at the club after the sale of Miguel Almiron in January, but at 30 years old is not the long-term solution in the position alongside Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
Over 26 Liga Portugal appearances, the 25-year-old – once hailed “unbelievable” by The Athletic journalist Tim Spiers – has scored eight goals, registered eleven assists and created 14 big chances, as well as averaging 2.2 key passes and 3.1 shots on goal per game.
To put that into perspective, no Newcastle player other than Isak (24) has tallied up more league goal contributions than Trincao (19) so far this season, demonstrating his potential to boost the output at St James’ Park next season.
Not only that, the talented winger has already earned Premier League experience with 28 appearances and two goals for Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan
With that being said, a move for Trincao will definitely be one to watch for the Magpies this summer, as he could be the perfect player to bring a fresh perspective to Newcastle’s right wing both domestically and on the European stage next season.
