Newcastle are reportedly already in talks to sign Brazilian teenager Matheus Franca to gain an advantage over their rivals before the January transfer window opens.
Numerous elite European teams are keeping an eye on the 18-year-old Franca after he had a breakout season with Flamengo.
Franca won the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores in his first season as a professional, drawing the attention of interested teams.
And according to Brazilian outlet Globo, Newcastle have started negotiations with the club in a bid to sign him early in the transfer window.
Eddie Howe is keen to bolster his squad in January as Newcastle look to build on their impressive first half of the season and challenge for the top 4 spot.
If he moves northeast, Franca, who is considered Flamengo’s best player since they sold Vinicius Jr. to Real Madrid in 2018, would no doubt bring more style and quality.
