Newcastle United considering move for 'elite' Portuguese international with £84m release clause

As we debate whether or not another move for Marc Guehi would make sense for Newcastle United another name has entered the frame for the Magpies to look at.

Newcastle still want to bring in a right-sided centre-back as a long-term replacement for Fabian Schar and whether that ends up being Marc Guehi or someone else remains to be seen.

However, the Magpies aren't going to make the same mistake as they did in the summer and focus all their energy on just one man.

Now a report from O Jogo in Portugal (via GiveMeSport) has suggested that Newcastle are keen on Benfica star Tomas Araujo.

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Newcastle are keen on Benfica's Tomas Araujo

The 22-year-old is carving out a stellar reputation for himself since breaking into the Benfica side and is now a full-blown Portugal international.

Araujo has a €100 million (£84 million) release clause at Benfica, but Newcastle will be hoping to negotiate a price way below that threshold.

They won't be alone, however, with Chelsea and Crystal Palace also named as potential interested parties.

Tomas Araujo may not have Premier League experience but he has the quality

Araujo is a progressive defender very much in the same mould as Schar and likes to get forward. He's already got one assist in nine Primeira Liga games this season.

There's no mention of other European clubs in the report but we'd be stunned if Chelsea and Crystal Palace were the only other clubs we needed to battle against to land Araujo.

If Newcastle could pick him up for half of his release clause that would still be a bargain compared to what we'd have to pay for Marc Guehi proving that it makes more sense to shop abroad. Yes, Guehi has the much-loved Premier League experience, but it didn't take Sven Botman long to adapt.