Championship outfit Middlesbrough tried and failed to sign Benfica’s Rafa Silva in August; now he could be Premier League bound with Newcastle United.
Newcastle United are not the first north eastern outfit who have expressed an interest in Benfica forward Rafa Silva over the last 12 months.
Speaking to Radio Renascenca this week, the winger’s agent Antonio Araujo has claimed that Newcastle want to bring Silva to the Premier League during the summer transfer window.
“[Newcastle] is one of the interested parties, they are one of the interested ones,” he said.
The 14-time Portugal international would certainly add an extra sprinkling of quality to a Newcastle forward line already boasting the considerable creative talents of Miguel Almiron and Ayoze Perez.
The former Braga forward has lived up to his £14 million price-tag this season (Sky) with 19 goals for the Primeira Liga leaders.
But claims that Middlesbrough tried and failed to sign him last year adds some extra intrigue. The Sun (26 August, page 61) reported that Boro attempted to bring Silva to the Riverside on loan with an option to buy for £10 million.
Tony Pulis’s side were left disappointed, however, with Silva perhaps not keen to swap the Champions League for the Championship.
And after a dreadful end to the season which resulted in them missing out on the play-offs, the mood of Middlesbrough fans will hardly improve if Newcastle sign their one-that-got-away.
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