Newcastle to demand world record fee for Bruno Guimaraes

FT Desk
FT Desk
  • Updated: 16 Oct 2022 09:34 BST
  • 3 min read
Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle, 2021/22
© ProShots

Bruno Guimaraes has attracted interest from Real Madrid and Juventus after his impressive start at Newcastle, but the Magpies have no intention of seeing him leave on the cheap…

Newcastle only signed Guimaraes from Lyon for €46 million in January, but the Brazilian's start to life at St. James' Park has been an impressive one.

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He helped lift them from the relegation zone to an 11th-placed finish last season, and has been ever-present - with two goals and an assist - to steer them into sixth so far in the current campaign.

Not that scoring is the Brazilian's job. Nominally a defensive midfielder, he has averaged four tackles and 24 pressures per game since he arrived on Tyneside, but also three shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.

In short, he is the complete midfielder, and Newcastle know it, hence they are set to offer him a new contract just nine months after signing him.

Howe: 'long-term vision'

"We desperately want Bruno to be happy here, to see a long-term vision here," manager Eddie Howe said recently. "As long as a player sees ambition in the club and progression in the club we can fulfil his needs."

"But the Magpies have no interest in losing Guimaraes so soon after signing him from Lyon," report Sky Sports. "And have slapped a world-record price tag on his to ward off any suitors."

The transfer world record remains the €222 million PSG paid Barcelona for Neymar in 2017. Paul Pogba is the most expensive central midfielder, having cost Manchester United €105m when he returned to the club from Juventus in 2016.

Guimaraes is currently ranked at €36m by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm, but the Toon are now the world's richest club following the Saudi takeover in October 2021, and don't need accept any bid on financial grounds.

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