Newcastle were keen on bolstering their frontline with at least two attacking additions in the recently concluded transfer window but had to settle for one new striker in Chris Wood.
Although the Magpies sealed a deal for Wood in the second week of January, the club’s hierarchy did step up their efforts and were in contact with clubs and representatives of several attacking targets, but their work ended in vain.
Cabral’s agent Portela as revealed that Newcastle contacted his team and asked about the possibility of a move for the striker, even holding some video conferences while a clutch of other clubs also registered interested in securing his services
“The Newcastle [deal makers] contacted me for information over a possible move and we had some video conferences”, Portela told Italian outlet Grandhotelcalciomercato.com.
“As well as the president of Zenit St Petersburg, in addition to German side Wolfsburg.
“In the past we also received enquiries from Atalanta and Genoa.”
Portela added that Cabral ultimately opted to join Fiorentina last month because they informed them that a vacancy would open up in the striker’s role in the La Viola frontline with Dusan Vlahovic leaving for Juventus.
“We accepted Fiorentina’s offer because they told us that Vlahovic would go to Juventus.
“When we told Arthur he was immediately enthusiastic.”
Newcastle also missed out on a deal for Reims striker Hugo Ekitike on deadline day with the player opting against a move to Tyneside, while their attacking target Jesse Lingard was not allowed to leave last month by his club Manchester United.
