Newcastle transfer news: Magpies ‘like’ £30m international

Newcastle United ‘like' Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, but no offers have been made for him, according to Sky Sports' North East reporter Keith Downie.

Hornicek has a £30m release clause in his contract, and is interesting a number of clubs in the Premier League.

The Czech Republic international has already turned down Hull City, but that is not to say that he would not be open to a move to St. James' Park.

Newcastle could add another goalkeeper to their squad this summer, despite already signing Ewen Jaouen from Reims.

Newcastle transfer news: Magpies ‘like' Hornicek

It is easy to see why Newcastle ‘like' Hornicek based on his stats and profile.

Indeed, he kept 12 clean sheets for Braga in Liga Portugal, the fifth-most in the league, while he also did not concede in Braga's most recent Europa Conference League qualifying clash with Zelez, as the Portuguese side won 1-0 in the first leg.

Hornicek was also at the World Cup with the Czech Republic, although he did not feature, and has only earned one senior cap for the Czechs.

Still, at just 24 years of age, Hornicek will have plenty of opportunities to earn more caps for his country, and could develop into one of the world's best goalkeepers with the right coaching.

FW verdict: Newcastle do not need Hornicek at this moment in time

Nick Pope is Newcastle's current first-choice goalkeeper, and given his experience in the Premier League, it would be unlikely for Hornicek to displace him at this moment in time.

With the signing of Jaouen, the Magpies currently have four goalkeepers in their squad including Mark Gillespie and Aidan Harris.

Should Hornicek sign, then at least a couple of them would need to be shown the exit door, otherwise the squad would be bloated in that position.

Thus, Eddie Howe and Newcastle should hold off from any potential signing for now, until they can trim down the goalkeeping department into a more manageable number of players.