Newcastle’s recent focus on physically dominant players could now be reflected in a new discussion emerging from Portugal around two names heavily linked with the club in recent months.
Both William Gomes and Victor Froholdt have again been highlighted locally. This time, it is for the physical metrics behind Porto’s title-winning season under Francesco Farioli.
Newcastle’s recruitment team have targeted intensity, athleticism and high-output profiles in recent windows. This is particularly among younger players capable of developing into Premier League-level starters.
That broader strategy has already seen the Magpies repeatedly linked with both Porto players over recent months. In fact, Jornal de Notícias just mentioned Newcastle as possible suitors for Froholdt on their Monday issue.
Now Portuguese newspaper O Jogo has dedicated a feature to Porto’s physical dominance across the 2025-26 campaign, with both players topping key rankings in Liga Portugal.
Porto’s physical edge under Farioli
Francesco Farioli repeatedly insisted during the season that running harder than opponents was non-negotiable for his Porto side. The numbers appear to support that idea.
According to GoalPoint data relayed by O Jogo, Porto finished as the fastest team in the Portuguese league. They averaged sprint speeds of 33.1 km/h per match and also led the division for high-intensity running distance.
The report adds that Porto spent less time walking during matches than any other side in the league. Their physical output became one of the foundations of the title-winning campaign.
William Gomes emerged as the fastest player in the entire championship, recording a top speed of 33.1 km/h. Sporting’s Luis Suárez ranked second at 32.9 km/h.
That explosiveness has already attracted attention beyond Portugal. Newcastle have previously been linked with the Brazilian winger. This is part of their ongoing monitoring of emerging South American talent in Europe.
Froholdt described as Porto’s “locomotive”
Victor Froholdt’s profile looks slightly different, but perhaps even more aligned with the type of midfielder Premier League clubs now value highly.
The Danish midfielder averaged 10.768 kilometres covered per 90 minutes. He also led the league in running distance and high-intensity actions. In fact, he produced almost 56 runs above 20 km/h per match.
O Jogo described him as Porto’s “locomotive”. Even when he’s not at his best technically, he is able to impact the game with his constant movement and smart positioning.
That combination of engine, intensity and consistency has helped place him firmly on Premier League radars in recent months, with Newcastle among the clubs repeatedly linked before.
We know athleticism, intensity and physical upside look central to the club’s market strategy heading into the summer window. So makes sense to target two of the most phisically dominant players in Portugal.