It’s no secret that Newcastle are in the market for a new centre-forward to replace Callum Wilson.
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The qualities of the 32-year-old are not in doubt, but his fitness is. Out of contract next summer, the England striker, who scored nine goals in 20 Premier League games last season, is already struggling with a back issue, casting fresh concerns over his suitability to remain at St James’ Park.
While Borussia Dortmund’s Youssouf Moukoko has been linked with the Geordies, there is another glaring option who could be available to support Alexander Isak in the No.9 role – and he could offer a long-term successor to the Sweden star while also having the capacity to hit the ground running.
Vitor Roque does not even have a squad number at Barcelona, yet for a price in the region of €40 million, he might be prised away from a Camp Nou outfit desperate to make significant sales to alleviate their tricky financial position.
A deal for the 19-year-old was rushed through in January as Robert Lewandowski struggled for form, yet he has barely managed to feature.
Nevertheless, the potential of the teenager is clear.
Vitor Roque: A player waiting to explode
Data analytics company SciSports state that Vitor Roque has the potential to become a “key player” at Newcastle, better than anyone currently on the books of the Magpies.
Of course, he is not at that standard yet. He is given a SciSkill rating, based on hundreds of in-game data points, of 78.1 compared to the 87.8 of Wilson or the 107.1 of Isak. He could quickly close the gap to the Englishman.
His time in Brazil, meanwhile, shows he offers a very similar style to Wilson in the centre-forward role, which hints he could slot into the gap nicely. And there’s the bonus of being able to play across the front line, with Eddie Howe a fan of such versatility.
Vitor Roque’s suitability is further reflected by use of SciSports’ Career Advice tool.
Vitor Roque v Callum Wilson: Playing style
Newcastle are the optimal club for Vitor Roque to continue his career, according to the data analytics experts.
Howe’s side are given an impressive Club Fit score of 80. This is based around a multitude of factors, including potential development, scope for playing time as well as tactical considerations both in terms of style and setup.
Newcastle get five stars for both playing style and formation, indicating that Roque is perfectly suited to Howe’s style of football.
The only potential drawback is a lack of playing time.
United still appear to retain an interest, with rumours likely to reignite following the news Rasmus Hojlund will miss six weeks. Roque, though, is not suited to Erik ten Hag’s style, would have limited development opportunity and get only scraps of game time.
Newcastle represent a more logical option, particularly as Hojlund appears cemented as Man Utd’s long-term No.9 in a way that Isak is not at St James’.
Of course, €40m represents a big investment for Newcastle, breaking into their 10 most expensive signings of all-time, but the Magpies have a strong success rate when spending big, and Vitor Roque would be another smart pick up in a position that needs development.
