Newcastle United Are In The Race For €45–50M Full-Back: Is This A Opportunistic Scouting?

“He’s a player who’s had a good season for Sporting and obviously done well for Uruguay as well. He’ll be going to the World Cup with them. He impressed against Arsenal when they played Sporting in the Champions League quarter-finals, and is a player who looks like he has the profile to be a good fit in the Premier League.

“He’s fast, aggressive and likes to get forward, but I don’t think it would be a top priority for Newcastle. It would obviously depend (on whether) they were to lose players or players were to move on, then maybe they could be interested in Araujo.”

Do Newcastle United actually need Araujo, or is this just opportunistic scouting?

LISBON, PORTUGAL – APRIL 07: Maximiliano Araujo of Sporting Clube de Portugal is challenged by Ben White of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Arsenal FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on April 07, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

To be honest, this feels more like a backup plan than a must-have signing, which isn’t a bad thing. Eddie Howe should currently be looking at a striker, central midfielder, and right-back as his main summer targets, leaving left-back a bit further down the list. Lewis Hall has been a consistent performer in a tough season, so it wouldn’t make much sense to replace him for no reason. But things change quickly in football; if Hall moves on, Newcastle United need a proper replacement ready to go rather than scrambling for a body in late August.

Araujo definitely has the attributes. He is athletic, direct, and happy to press high up the pitch, which makes him a perfect option for how Howe likes his team to play. His underlying numbers for goal threat are consistently high, showing that his output this season isn’t just a fluke. That’s a big deal in a league where full-backs are becoming more influential in deciding matches.

That said, there are some clear risks. Araujo still needs to refine his final ball, and at €45–50 million, he would want to be a guaranteed starter, not a bench option. On top of that, with six Premier League rivals in contention, Newcastle United won’t have much room to negotiate on price. After seeing some expensive signings struggle lately, it’s hard to justify spending big money on a position where they already have a reliable player. Araujo is a talent, but Newcastle need sure bets in this window, not pricey gambles.