Lukas Hornicek closes in on Newcastle United move

Last night was brutal - a 4-1 defeat to Championship side Bristol City - but good news may be on the horizon for Newcastle United.

After some shoddy work on the pitch at Ashton Gate, the club has been busy off the field in pursuing another under-the-radar summer target.

A week on from our £34m swoop for Aladji Bamba, Newcastle chiefs have moved on from former target James Trafford and turned their focus to Lukas Hornicek.

The 24-year-old stopper's name has done the rounds in recent days, and it looks like Newcastle United are closing in on the man set to replace Nick Pope between the sticks at St James' Park.

Czech giant closing in?

Last night, reports in Portugal claimed that Newcastle United were closing in on a deal to sign Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek.

According to Braga-based outlet Diário do Minho and a 'source close to the process', the shot-stopper is now 'expected' to complete a move to the North East in the coming week.

The Portuguese paper reports that Newcastle have triggered the player's €30m release clause (£25.6m), leaving him unlikely to feature in Braga's European match against Zeleznicar Pancevo on Thursday.

His involvement in that game could be telling, but this one is beginning to pick up real traction, with a North East journalist previously confirming our interest in Hornicek.

While club sources appear to have played down the notion it's a 'done deal', the player himself has already given the green light to Newcastle after recently turning down a switch to Premier League newcomers Hull City.

Hornicek kept 24 clean sheets in 55 outings for Braga last season, has played 18 times in the Europa League and has been capped by his country, Czechia.