Rumoured Newcastle United target Ricardo Horta has been told he must make history with his current side SC Braga in order to seal a potential Premier League switch, according to Record via Sport Witness.
Horta has been in stellar form with his current Liga NOS outfit this season, but has little left to achieve in Portugal outside of becoming Braga’s all-time leading goalscorer.
The 25-year-old currently has 49 goals in 171 appearances to his name since joining Braga from Malaga in an initial loan deal back in the summer of 2016, which places him second in Os Arcebispos’ all-time rankings and only five behind club legend Alan – the Brazilian winger scored 54 goals in 345 outings.
Overtaking Alan’s record would secure Horta’s place in Braga’s history books and is believed to be enough for him to yield intrigue from the Premier League and Serie A this summer, where Newcastle and Torino are said to be considering moves.
Horta also had the chance to earn his legend status by guiding the Estadio Municipal de Braga natives to European silverware this season, but hopes of a Europa League title were shattered on Wednesday when Ruben Amorim’s men bowed out of the competition after losing 4-2 on aggregate to Rangers in the Round of 32.
One-time Portugal international Horta started the UEFA affair from an attacking midfield role, but failed to create any key balls, misplaced eight of his 27 passes, completed his only dribble of the game in the second minute and saw his only shot blocked, per WhoScored data.
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While Horta was ineffectual against Rangers on Wednesday evening, the 25-year-old has otherwise been enjoying a strong campaign under Amorim with 18 goals and seven assists to his name across all competitions.
Twelve of his total strikes have come from the left-wing, while firing home six times in eight outings on the right including a brace against Russian giants CSKA Moscow in the qualifying stages of this term’s Europa League.
Horta also has vital goals in his tally against FC Porto and Sporting CP on route to clinching the Allianz Cup title last month, and his goal involvement of 11 in the Liga NOS has helped place Braga third in the standings after 22 games.
As such, Os Arcebispos would be loath to lose the SL Benfica product on the cheap and reports earlier in the week suggested they would be prepared to reject an €11million (£9.3m) bid from Newcastle, and instead look to hold out for closer to his €30m (£25.3m) release clause.
That was not the first time that Horta’s named had been entwined with the Toon over a potential move to the Premier League, either, as the Almada-born winger was tipped as a potential target in January when negotiations with RB Leipzig began to stall over a deal for Ademola Lookman.
In other Newcastle United news, a £35k-p/w player will not feature against Burnley in the absence of a £20m international.