Newcastle United fans in the Transfer Tavern have found their voices once again after an improved run of form from their side in the last fortnight.
Rafa Benitez’s men lost to Tottenham and Huddersfield Town in their opening two Premier League games to leave the Magpies supporters stood at the bar concerned for their team’s prospects, but back-to-back victories over West Ham and Swansea City have lifted the mood among those in the Tavern.
And there could be some more encouraging news to follow if a recent report in the Shields Gazette is anything to go by, as the North East giants reportedly sent a scout to watch Benfica take on CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.
It is likely that the Magpies were there to look at summer transfer target Andreas Samaris, a 28-year-old midfielder who has been at the Portuguese giants since 2014, and has played 111 games for the side in that time, helping them to three successive domestic league titles.
However, if that was indeed the aim of the trip, the Newcastle scout would have been disappointed as the Greece international was an unused substitute during the encounter, a match the Russian Premier League outfit won 2-1.
The Magpies scout wasn’t the only one in attendance either, what with representatives from the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona also present, and although Samaris could well have been the aim of the trip, it’s plausible that other targets were identified during the clash at the Estadio da Luz.
Landlord’s verdict: Newcastle’s recent upturn in form has given supporters of the North East giants renewed optimism ahead of the campaign, yet it’s clear from their recent scouting mission that they feel further reinforcements will be needed as the season progresses.
The Magpies were reportedly interested in Benfica’s Andreas Samaris over the summer but were unable to get a deal done before the August 31 deadline, and he may well have been the crux of their recent scouting trip to Portugal to watch Benfica’s Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow.
The midfielder didn’t feature at all though, but with it unclear that Samaris was indeed the reason for the trip, other possible transfer targets may well have caught the eye of the Newcastle scout in the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night.
Newcastle fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know!
