According to reports in Portuguese media outlet O Jogo, Newcastle United are interested in signing Benfica defender Lisandro Lopez during the January transfer window.
The Magpies were linked with a move for the centre-back earlier in the year but O Jogo claims that they were unable to pay the €10m (approximately £8.9m at the current exchange rate) needed to prise him away from the Portuguese giants.
However, it appears as though they could return for the 28-year-old in the New Year after learning that he has become frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities at the Stadium of Light this season.
Another Portuguese publication A Bola, via Sport Witness, believes that the Argentina international could even be allowed to leave on loan, which could prove to be a tempting proposition for Rafa Benitez and the Tyneside outfit in what could be an important second half of the campaign.
Here are three reasons Newcastle should steer clear of signing Lopez…
They don't really need a centre-back
Considering they currently have captain Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Florian Lejeune and Chancel Mbemba as their centre-back options, it's difficult to see how Newcastle need another central defender right now.
The former has been one of the Magpies top performers this season even though he didn't start the opening day clash against Tottenham, and the six-year deal he signed recently suggests that he is now regarded as a key first-team player.
With new boy Florian Lejeune and Ciaran Clark also highly thought of, it's a bit of a mystery why they would want Lopez in January.
He would expect guaranteed game time
As we have just alluded to, one of the reasons Lopez wants out of Benfica is because he isn't getting regular time on the pitch and it would be difficult to see him getting that with Newcastle as things stand.
The 28-year-old has fallen behind Jardel and Ruben Dias in the pecking order at the Stadium of Light and it was only the absence of the former because of injury that meant that Lopez featured for 75 minutes against Rio Ave FC, 62 minutes against Portimonense a fortnight later and for 89 minutes against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League – his only three appearances of the campaign.
Since then he hasn't made any of their matchday squads and he certainly wouldn't be content with a similar situation at St James' Park.
His Benfica career
Lopez signed for Benfica in 2013 from Argentine club Arsenal de Sarandi, and while he went straight out on loan to Getafe for the 2013/14 campaign, the fact that he has made just 50 appearances in all competitions for the Portuguese giants in the last three-and-a-bit seasons will certainly be a bit of a worry.
It would suggest that the 28-year-old isn't considered good enough to feature regularly for them, and in those terms you would have to wonder whether he would be good enough to perform consistently in the Premier League for Newcastle.
Do you agree, Magpies fans? Let us know below.