According to reports in the Daily Mirror, Newcastle United are closing in on the club-record £17.5m signing of Benfica midfielder Andreas Samaris.

Magpies manager Rafa Benitez has more control over new additions following the departure of chief scout Graham Carr earlier this week, and he looks set to seal a deal for Greece international Samaris, who has won three consecutive Primeira Liga titles during his three seasons with Benfica.

If the 28-year-old does move to St James’ Park for £17.5m, the fee would eclipse the £17m that the Tyneside outfit paid for Michael Owen in 2005, and he would become their most expensive ever addition.

Newcastle supporters were quick to have their say on the rumour via social media, with many confused at the potential club-record deal considering they had never heard of the player, and others noticing that the deal has come out of nowhere with few prior murmurings.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…