Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have both been linked with a bid for a proven Serie A star - can the Magpies finally win a transfer battle?
Newcastle are enduring an exceptionally difficult start to the transfer window which has continued a concerning theme from last summer: Whenever they want to compete with another Premier League club for a player, they lose out. It’s already happened twice this year.
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Having missed out on Osasuna winger Victor Muñoz when Liverpool came in with an eleventh-hour bid, the Magpies have since been beaten to the signature of Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi after Aston Villa swept in and outbid them. Now, reports suggest that they could be set to square off against Nottingham Forest in another transfer battle – over Fiorentina wing-back Dodô. Will they finally be able to get one over on one of their rivals?
Newcastle & Nottingham Forest both interested in Dodô – reports
Dodô played for Shakhtar Donetsk before moving to Florence in 2022placeholder image
Dodô played for Shakhtar Donetsk before moving to Florence in 2022 | Getty Images
A story from Sport Witness which was published on Wednesday suggested that both Newcastle and Forest were keen on Brazilian right-back Dodô, who is set to leave Fiorentina as his contract enters its final year.
La Viola have already begun acting under the assumption that the diminutive defender will leave the club, and have completed the controversial loan signing of Bournemouth’s Álex Jiménez to ensure that they have a replacement in place. Dodô is now up for sale as Fiorentina work to ensure that they get some money for him a year ahead of his seemingly inevitable departure.
The asking price has been set in the region of €16-17m (up to £14.5m) according to Sport Witness’ report, with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest said to have made initial enquiries.
They may not be alone in their interest. Inter Milan, Juventus and Napoli all supposedly held talks over a deal but a formal offer has yet to materialise – and neither have either Premier League side made a bid, with all of Dodô’s prospective suitors still considering their options.
Newcastle and Forest have the advantage of being able to offer Premier League wages, with none of the Serie A sides able to match the pay packets that English sides can put together – but the Italian teams in the mix can all offer European football in some form. Dodô’s priorities and preferences are not yet known.
In short, Newcastle may well have a battle on their hands if they do launch a bid, and that’s not a scenario in which they have thrived over the last year or so – but even Forest wouldn’t necessarily have a straightforward path to a deal. Dodô’s future remains extremely uncertain, beyond the fact that he is highly unlikely to be a Fiorentina player next season.
Would Dodô make the difference for Newcastle next season?
Dodô represented Brazil at age group level but has yet to receive a senior capplaceholder image
Dodô represented Brazil at age group level but has yet to receive a senior cap | Getty Images
If Newcastle do indeed decide to enter the market for Dodô, he would be earmarked as Kieran Trippier’s replacement – the 27-year-old is an attacking right wing-back whose skillset should dovetail neatly with Eddie Howe’s tactics and playing style.
Quick, a strong dribbler and a sufficiently accurate crosser to both get forward consistently and to present a genuine creative threat in the final third, Dodô has been one of Fiorentina’s most reliable attacking outlets over the past four seasons, generating a steady stream of chances.
Newcastle’s direct style of play should suit Dodô, although Howe has typically preferred most of his side’s attacking width to come from the wide forwards rather than the full-backs.
Dodô does have his drawbacks. At 5’5” tall, he lacks physical presence and can be bullied on one-on-one situations, and his aggressive style of play makes him prone to being caught upfield and leaving space for the counter-attack.
That means that he might be a better fit for a team that operates in a 3-5-2 formation with extra defensive cover in behind – and that’s Oliver Glasner’s preferred system, which he may well institute at Forest after taking over from Vítor Pereira. He may well be better suited to the City Ground than St. James’ Park anyway.
At the suggest price, which there may well be room to negotiate on given his contract situation, Dodô is certainly an appealing signing who would make a strong rotational option and potential starter for either side – but it’s still far from clear as to which team might win the race. If recent history is any guide, at least, it’s probably unwise to bet on Newcastle.
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