Newcastle United’s scouts have been zig-zagging Europe in a bid to find talent this season.
With a nod to the Twitter account Scouts in Attendance (@scoutsattending) – which collates reports from across the Continent about which clubs are being represented at top level games – we have compiled every match Newcastle’s spotters have been themselves observed at this season.
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A few clubs crop up time and time again – Bordeaux, Benfica, Sporting and Olympiakos all get several mentions – while Newcastle seem to be looking in Portugal and France again. Here are all the matches they’ve watched this season.
March 2019
Greece under-19 v Denmark under-19
Newcastle were among 22 clubs to send scouts to watch this Euro Championship qualifier played in Loughborough. The match finished 2-2.
Benfica v Dinamo Moscow
Another trip to Lisbon for a Europa League clash. Newcastle also watched Greek league clash PAOK v Panathinaikos earlier this month.
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo
Newcastle saw Real win 3-0. Okay Yukuslu was linked before he joined Celta last summer and Pione Sisto, another winger, has also been linked.
February 2019
Sporting Club v Feirense
United were watching Portuguese league action again. Bruno Fernandes hit two goals for Sporting and the winger is understood to be in demand.
Sevilla v Eibar
Midfielder Ibrahim Amadou, who plays for Sevilla, was the man being touted here – although he was on the bench for this one.
January 2019
Sporting Club v Moreirense
Midfielder Bruno Fernandes was watched as he scored his seventh goal of the domestic campaign. They also watched Sporting in February as they defeated Sporting Braga 3-0.
December 2018:
Bordeaux v Paris Saint Germain
Newcastle and Atletico Madrid were represented at the big Ligue 1 clash, where forward Francois Kamano was also in action. Newcastle also watched Bordeaux’s game against Zenit St Petersburg and Slavia Prague, where 21-year-old winger Samuel Kalu started. Striker Kamano was on the bench.
Olympiakos v AC Milan
Midfielder Mady Camara played and so too did 23 year-old centre-back Pape Cisse and left-back Leonardo Koutris.
Real Betis v Real Sociedad
Junior Firpo was understood to be the man being watched here – he is also being linked with Real Madrid. Centre-back Diego Llorente was injured.
November 2018:
Jablonec v Rennes
Czech defensive midfielder Michal Trávník – who has impressed this season and is a Czech Republic international – was under the microscope. The player shares an agent with Martin Dubravka.
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Benfica v Ajax
Champions League action at the Stadium of Light again drew Newcastle’s scouts.
Spain v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Magpies scout was at the game, where Diego Llorente - the Real Sociedad centre-back linked with the club – finished 90 minutes.
Porto v Schalke
Éder Militão was the target as over 30 clubs sent scouts to watch Porto in European action. Manchester United were also there, with then boss Jose Mourinho understood to be a big fan of the midfielder.
October 2018:
Porto v Galatasaray
Magpies spotters again watched Europa League action. This time they were apparently looking at centre-back Diogo Leite, although Barcelona, Crystal Palace and Manchester United were also credited with an interest. Garry Rodrigues, the winger, was also in action for the Turkish side.
Bordeaux v Copenhagen
Newcastle were among a clutch of scouts looking at the Europa League game in France. Forward Francois Kamano was in action.
Bordeaux v Nice
United again credited with interest in Bordeaux - this time their domestic game.
Club Brugges v AS Monaco
Another midweek, another European assignment for Newcastle’s Continental spotters. They were one of 42 clubs represented at the game, where Thierry Henry was marking his first game in charge of the Ligue 1 side.
AEK Athens v Olympiakos
Mady Camara was again reported to be the man monitored by the Magpies as they checked out Olympiakos in domestic action.
September 2018:
Wales under-21 v Portugal under-21
United scouts were at the match in Cardiff alongside scouts from Manchester City and the Bluebirds – with Teamtalk claiming Newcastle’s presence was an outlier because they did not have a player in action. Portugal won 2-0 with Gil Dias and Joao Carvalho scoring.
Valencia under-19 v Juventus under-19
United, Wolves, Leeds and Tottenham scouts were at the Champions League youth game – and the senior equivalent later on.
Benfica v Bayern Munich
United’s scouts watched at the Stadium of Light once again for the Champions League clash between the Portuguese and German giants. Watford, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea also watched on.
Olympiakos v Real Betis
Newcastle scouts watched the Greek side in Europa League action against Burnley and also La Liga side Real Betis. Holding midfielder Mady Camara was reported by the man they were watching.
August 2018:
Benfica v Vitoria
A report in Record in Portugal listed United as one of several European clubs as present for the Stadium of Light clash. Aston Villa, Bayer Leverkusen, Alavés, Eintracht Frankfurt, Everton, Manchester City and Tottenham were others. Haris Seferovic, veteran Jonas Gonçalves Oliveira and Raul Jimenez - who later signed for Wolves – all scored in a 3-1 win for Benfica.
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