Newcastle United's head of recruitment Steve Nickson had a busy weekend over the international break after taking in two matches in the capital.
The club's main talent spotter was an interested spectator in the stands at Wembley as England lost 1-0 to Brazil, and while there were already two familiar faces on show from United in Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes, Nickson is thought to have been on a watching brief looking at players from Seleção Canarinha.
The former Blackburn scout has been a busy man of late and has been spotted out and about at grounds with Newcastle tightening up their summer shortlist. United are set to have money to spend this summer despite FFP rules again set to be a big factor, but outgoings are also anticipated too.
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Nickson was not alone in the stands as representatives from Premier League rivals watched on at Wembley with Raphinha the subject of interest from a clutch of top-flight clubs and linked with Newcastle too in windows gone by. The former Leeds United is now in his second season in La Liga with Barcelona but Tottenham Hotspur and Saudi Pro League clubs are keen on the star.
Having started just 12 games and with Barca in financial trouble the Catalan club are keen to offload. Newcastle have ran the rule over Raphinha in the past but with the winger expected to cost £60million, Eddie Howe has already indicated that the Magpies must cut their cloth accordingly this summer.
Another player that has been on United's radar in the past is Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer who has been heavily linked with Manchester United this summer. Bremer is a right-sided centre-back who shares the same agency with current Newcastle star Kieran Trippier and the Brazilian defensive ace is known to club scouts.
During a hectic stay in London, Nickson was also present at West Ham's London Stadium on Friday night. It was in the East End that, Colombia defeated Spain at the home of the Hammers.
One player on show that Newcastle have looked at in the past was left-back Grimaldo of Spain. Although, the left-back is enjoying a great debut season with Bayer Leverkusen as they close in on the Bundesliga title and he is contracted there until 2027.
Howe's side felt the full force of a Grimaldo rocket when he scored a wonderful free-kick in the Eusebio Cup final in 2022 during a 3-2 defeat.
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