Newcastle United are reportedly among three Premier League clubs interested in signing SC Braga starlet Vitinha, who has a €30 million release clause in his current contract.
Newcastle are keeping tabs on SC Braga striker Vitinha. That’s according to Portuguese news outlet O Jogo, as relayed by Sport Witness, which claims the Magpies are keen on signing the attacker after his stunning start to the 2022/23 campaign. Brentford and Southampton have also been named as possible interested parties in the Premier League.
Vitor Oliveira, better known as Vitinha, is a Portugal youth international who broke into the Braga first team last season and has flourished at the senior level. A fine prospect, the 22-year-old scored 14 goals in just 23 starts in all competitions last term, which is a sensational return for someone so young in his breakout year.
And it is safe to say he has carried that scoring touch into the current campaign. If anything, Vitinha is on course to surpass that tally easily. He has been on fire with nine goals in 20 appearances. And out of those, four strikes have arrived in the Europa League, although he could not prevent his team from being relegated to the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Vitinha made headlines last month when he bagged a 36-minute hat trick in the 3-3 draw against Union SG. That seems to have alerted foreign clubs who are looking to add firepower to their attacking lineup. Newcastle United, Southampton, and Brentford are all vying to secure his services.
The suitors are also anticipated to be in attendance when Vitinha turns out for Portugal’s Under-21s as they face the Czech Republic and Japan in friendlies later this week.
Newcastle United are third in the Premier League table after their impressive start to the season. They go into the World Cup break on a high off the back of a 1-0 victory over fellow top-four hopefuls Chelsea last time out.
The Magpies are planning to make more youth signings after signing Australian wonderkid Garang Kuol, going by the recent scouring of the South American market for their next target, linked to the likes of Andrey Santos and Eguinaldo.
However, at 22, Vitinha would be eyed as a first-team signing that could make an impact in the near future, and potentially be in their top-four bid if signed in January. Clearly, he would not come cheap, boasting a €30 million release clause in his current contract. But it is a gamble worth taking for Newcastle as the youngster certainly has the potential and a clear eye for goal to succeed at the top level.
The Portuguese attacker has earned a reputation for his last-man running, awareness, efficiency, and expert positional sense. His movement is swift, allowing him to easily spin and slip past opposing defenders. Gifted at holding the ball up, he is intelligent with his passing and active in the counter-press.
Potent at dribbling, and flicking the ball past a defender to create a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, he has already shown that he has a lot to his game and will be one for the future as well as capable of making an impact here and now if the Newcastle hierarchy can get him over the line in the upcoming transfer window.
