Newcastle United could face a tricky battle to keep Bruno Guimaraes at St James’ Park in the January transfer window, with several teams reportedly keen on snapping him up when the market reopens at the turn of the year. The Brazilian playmaker has emerged as a fan favourite at Newcastle since joining the club from Lyon and is a hugely important cog in the machine for the Magpies, who have enjoyed a surprisingly impressive start to the new Premier League campaign.
Guimaraes has played in all but four of Newcastle’s league matches so far this season, with the 24-year-old only having been forced to miss a handful of fixtures due to a hamstring injury. He has also managed to chip in with two goals and the same number of assists in all competitions for the Magpies but is already being linked with a move away from Tyneside despite only joining the club 10 months ago.
A number of top sides are keeping a close eye on Guimaraes’ development at Newcastle with a view to moving for his services at the start of the January window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid have been mentioned in connection with the player’s signature in recent weeks, although Newcastle are willing to do everything in their power to convince him that his long-term future lies at St James’ Park.
The idea of a new contract with an increased salary has been floated at Newcastle, with those in power keen to reward Guimaraes by handing him a new deal that reflects his important role at the club. Their plans to keep hold of him are said to be ‘very clear’ and are not expected to change, which suggests that any bids made by Chelsea or Real Madrid in January will simply be rejected out of hand.
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Newcastle are under no financial pressure to sell Guimaraes, who remains tied down until the summer of 2026 and is seemingly more than happy to stay put as things stand. However, only time will tell whether the lure of playing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs will tempt Guimaraes into a change of heart if any suitable offers are tabled next year.
The role of Eddie Howe could emerge as a crucial factor in Newcastle’s bid to keep hold of Guimaraes, with the Rio de Janeiro native known to be a huge admirer of his current manager. He likened the 44-year-old to a miracle worker when quizzed on their relationship back in September, telling FourFourTwo: “I’m enjoying working with him, I really am. Not only as a coach but as a person.
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“I admire the way he manages the whole group, he has a very human side with everyone. He’s turned water into wine here, leading a team that many saw as virtually relegated to the middle of the table. He’s bringing a winning mentality to the club, crucial when you have such a big project.
“Everybody has been very helpful so far, but Eddie in particular has always given me confidence. He would come to me and ask: ‘Where do you prefer to play? Here? There? OK. What’s your favourite role on the pitch? I want to help you adjust to my playing style but you have your own characteristics too – where do you think you can help me most?'”
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