A Bola has recently mentioned that SC Braga winger Ricardo Horto, who is a former Newcastle United target, could be available for just €12m with Olympique Lyonnais showing interest in landing him this month. Publico had previously revealed that the Magpies failed to agree on a fee to sign the Portuguese attacker for €12m in the last January transfer window as Braga wanted €30m at the time.
Horta’s Impressive Form At Braga This Season
The Almada-born sensation is enjoying another sensational season in Portuguese football after producing a run of productive performances as a key member of Carlos Carvalhal’s attack. Horto has been involved in 23 matches for the Portuguese outfit this term, finding the back of the net on nine occasions and securing six assists on all fronts.
The former Benfica youngster has done well to average 2.7 shots, 1.5 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per game in the Liga NOS and the UEFA Europa League group stages. The 26-year-old has also been careful when interchanging possession with others around him as he has completed 81.7% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
A lot of European clubs are haemorrhaging money because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Braga is no exception. Hence, the Magpies might stand a good chance of landing their former target if they can stump up the cash to bring him to St. James’ Park before the end of this month.
What Are The Portuguese Winger’s Best Attributes?
Horta has decent pace in his locker and can make some driving runs with the ball out on the wide areas. He is a great dribbler as he possesses excellent balance and ball-control to get himself out of tight spaces out on the flanks. The versatile winger can also fill in as a second striker if required, which makes him such a crucial member of Carvalhal’s squad.
The one-time Portugal international is a hard-working wide player who can get into some dangerous areas in the final third. He can even score and create goals consistently at the highest level, so Steve Bruce should think about getting him on board during this winter transfer period.
Why Bruce Should Get A Deal Done For Horta This Month
Currently, Newcastle are struggling to score enough goals and get some favourable results in the Premier League which has heaped more pressure on Bruce to come up with a solution. The Magpies need a fresh face who can galvanise their whole squad and help them steer clear of relegation trouble in the second half of this campaign.
Horta fits the bill perfectly as he is a proven goal-scorer and has what it takes to be a success story at St. James’ Park. Now that Braga has dropped their price-tag to just €12m which Newcastle were willing to pay last winter, the Tyneside giants should once again consider launching a move for the Portuguese wing wizard before the end of this transfer window.
