€85m Newcastle signing implodes: Wonderkid not keen on '300 rainy days in England'

Updated: 21 Aug 2026 17:38 BST | 4 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

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Newcastle were ready to reinvest their Bruno Guimaraes money in Porto sensation Victor Froholdt - but the player had other ideas.

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The Magpies have once again endured a chastening summer transfer window. Although signings haven't been quite as hard to come by as last year, Newcastle are facing a major transition period after massive personnel turnover.

Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon have all been sold, while the club have also had to contend with the departure of dressing room leader Kieran Trippier. Close to €200 million has been spent to replace the outgoing talent, but there has been a clear policy shift.

Current ETV

Victor Froholdt

M (C)

Porto

Victor Froholdt

M (C)

Porto

ETV Range

€24.2M - €29.6M

Having been rejected by numerous key targets in favour of bigger clubs last summer, Newcastle have realised that they are wasting their time by pursuing established elite talent, hence the clear focus on younger players from smaller leagues this time around.

With Eddie Howe having resigned midway through the summer, new coach Matthias Jaissle faces a monumental task to get this team Premier League-ready. The signings are exciting and have the potential to pay off big time in the future - but can they really move the needle instantly?

Newcastle turmoil scares off Froholdt

All this recent turmoil has diminished the attractiveness of Newcastle, as has last season's failure to qualify for Europe - although the latter is arguably a positive for Jaissle and his newly assembled squad, as a more relaxed schedule affords him time to get to know his players.

Still, joining Newcastle isn't the most exciting proposition for sought-after players this summer. This has been hammered home by the Magpies' failed pursuit of Porto midfielder Froholdt.

According to BOLD, the Denmark international was a key target for Newcastle. In fact, they were prepared to match the €85m figure of his release clause - believed to be the only way to sign him this year, with Porto hesitant to lose him.

Had Newcastle triggered his clause, Porto would have been powerless to stop him from making the move to St. James' Park. However, that became a moot point when Froholdt made it clear that he had no intention of moving to Newcastle.

Despite being one of Europe's most in-demand players after a spectacular first season in Portugal, the 20-year-old has been quite clear all summer that he will not leave Porto for at least another year.

Froholdt likely would have also turned down other suitors, but even if he had wanted to leave, it is doubtful that he would have picked Newcastle as his next destination.

Given the club's tumultuous 2025/26 season and the massive changes this summer, Froholdt would not have traded the relative stability of title-winning Porto, who will play in the Champions League, for Newcastle.

What's more, the report jokes that Froholdt obviously "prioritised 300 days of sunshine over 300 rainy days in northeast England." He would have been Newcastle's preferred Guimaraes replacement, but the deal was a total non-starter.