Newcastle United continues to explore defensive reinforcements as Eddie Howe looks to strengthen multiple areas of his squad before the start of the new Premier League season, with players from the XI departing and only a few youngsters having joined the squad so far.
The Magpies have primarily been linked with midfielders and wingers in recent weeks, but adding depth at full-back also remains one of the club’s priorities after the departure of Kieran Trippier and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding
Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.
According to Italian outlet Viola News, Newcastle has inquired about Fiorentina right-back Dodo, with Nottingham Forest also showing interest in the Brazilian defender.
“Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have inquired about Dodo, the Brazilian full-back who has been at Fiorentina since 2022,” the report says. “The 1998-born player’s contract with the Viola expires in less than a year, and he will leave Florence this summer, also because Fiorentina’s sporting director Fabio Paratici has already secured a deal with Spanish right-back Alex Jimenez. It remains to be seen when and how the former Shakhtar player will leave the Tuscan capital.”
According to the report, Fiorentina has placed a valuation of around €16-17 million (approximately £14-15 million) in the Serie A defender, with Viola News adding that previous discussions involving fellow Italian sides Inter Milan, Napoli and Roma have not resulted in a transfer. That, per the report, hints at the player’s preference for joining a Premier League club this summer.
Dodo has made more than 160 appearances for Fiorentina since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2022 and is regarded as one of Serie A’s most productive attacking full-backs, with no defender in Italy’s top flight completing more dribbles or recording more touches than Dodo last season.
An orange-to-red flag might be the Brazilian’s 5-foot-5 frame, which raises questions about how his game would translate to the physical demands of the Premier League. That said, he’s a technically capable player with good defensive anticipation, both things compensating for his lack of size.
While Viola News reports Newcastle has made contact regarding Dodo, it remains unclear whether that interest will develop into formal negotiations, or even if there’s anything true at all about this rumor given the source it comes from.
