Newcastle United’s search for another midfielder may have extended to a player who has largely flown under the radar throughout the summer.
The Magpies have been linked with a string of midfield targets following the departures of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, but a fresh report from Portugal suggests another name has quietly been on the club’s shortlist all summer long.
According to Portuguese outlet Record, via Sport Witness, Newcastle has been monitoring Benfica midfielder Richard Rios for
some time, although the interest has never previously emerged publicly.
The report, according to Sport Witness, adds that Napoli is also tracking the Colombia international, but Benfica has not received any formal approaches or offers from any club yet.
Rios only joined Benfica from Palmeiras earlier this summer in a deal worth €27 million, making any immediate move difficult despite continued interest from elsewhere. As things stand, Rios has a market value of €25 million on Transfermarkt.
The 26-year-old has also raised his value since returning from an underwhelming performance at the World Cup, appearing in a lone official game part of the Europa League qualifying phase and assisting on one goal while coming off the bench and logging just 24 minutes of playing time in a 5-0 win over FC St. Gallen.
That work has reportedly moved Rios closer to earning a regular starting role under Marco Silva, with the midfielder now viewed as genuine competition for Leandro Barreiro and Enzo Barrenechea after making his Benfica debut off the bench against St. Gallen.
Rios plays deep in the midfield but can carry the ball forward, with that being one of the qualities that has stood out since he arrived in Lisbon.
For Newcastle, the reported interest appears to be at the scouting stage rather than active negotiations with Benfica, with Record stating there have been no formal contacts or bids for the Colombian for now.
With Rios emerging as another midfield target, is he a player you’d like Newcastle to pursue, or would you rather see the club prioritize one of its more established links? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
