Newcastle United look to have settled on the direction they want to take after Bruno Guimarães' move to Arsenal, with Victor Froholdt now moving to the front of the queue. The Porto midfielder has been linked with the Magpies for months, but the latest reports from Portugal and Brazil suggest the club are edging closer to turning that interest into something more concrete. Record report Froholdt is the top name on Newcastle United's final shortlist to replace Bruno. While ESPN Brazil already claimed the club have now switched their focus to the Dane after previously viewing Botafogo's Danilo as the leading candidate. The biggest change isn't Newcastle United's interest itself. That has been there for a while. What's new is that the club now appear to have decided where they want to go next. According to ESPN Brazil, Froholdt has overtaken Danilo in Newcastle's plans. Record are a little more cautious, saying the 20-year-old is leading among the final options under consideration. Either way, the process is clearly moving forward. There is one important point, though. Record stress Newcastle haven't opened negotiations for Froholdt - or anyone else. The Magpies are still in the decision-making stage before making their first official move. Porto feeling comfortable None of this has changed Porto's mood. The Portuguese champions still expect Froholdt to be part of Francesco Farioli's squad this season, a view shared by André Villas-Boas, the manager himself and the player. Champions League football also works in Porto's favour. Froholdt will be playing on Europe's biggest club stage this season, while Newcastle United are outside UEFA competition altogether. Magpies would need almost all of Bruno fee The €85m (£73.4m) release clause also gives Porto plenty of confidence. Record add that Newcastle are expected to reinvest the money received from Bruno Guimarães' sale, but would prefer not to spend the entire €87.5m on one replacement. That could become an issue if the Magpies decide Froholdt is the man they really want. There are still several weeks left in the transfer window, so plenty can change. For now, though, Newcastle seem to have narrowed their search, while Porto are waiting to see whether that planning stage finally turns into a formal approach. League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 12th in Premier League, 49 pts, 14W-7D-17L from 38 games, recent form LWDWL. Goals this season: 53 scored, 55 conceded (-2 goal difference). Title race: 36 points behind leaders Arsenal.