Bruno Guimarares' release clause has become an unwelcome problem for Newcastle
Bruno Guimaraes has only scored three league goals this season. Two of those came in Saturday's 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest.
Back-to-back away wins for a Newcastle side that at one point boasted one of the worst away records in the division is a welcome reprieve for a Magpies outfit that has endured an indifferent campaign.
By finishing in the top four last season, Newcastle returned to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years. Eddie Howe's side, though, crashed out of European competition in its entirety at the group stages. A season that promised so much threatened to come apart at the seams.
However, since the FA Cup win over Sunderland at the start of the year, Newcastle look to be back on track. Victory at the City Ground over the weekend means they have now lost just one of their last six in all competitions, that against Manchester City no less, showing the necessary resolve that'll set Howe's team up perfectly for the second half of the season.
In this instance, Guimaraes put in the ideal all-round display that has helped establish the Brazilian as one of the most sought after midfielders on the continent. To go with his brace, Guimaraes also made two tackles, completed one dribble and also found a teammate with 87.5% of his 48 attempted passes.
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Bruno Guimaraes' all-action style has won him plenty of admirers among Newcastle fans (Getty Images)No wonder, then, that European heavyweights are casting watchful glances towards St. James' Park. In this instance, it's fine to talk about Bruno.
Newcastle pulled off a coup when they secured Guimaraes' services in January 2022. The midfielder moved to Lyon two years previously and he quickly became one of the best in his position, dominating in Ligue 1 as he took the league by storm.
While some may have doubted whether he could transition from French football to the Premier League, Guimaraes did so with ease. Now widely considered one of the best in world football, the Magpies did well to tie him down to a five-year deal in October.
The Brazilian is a key player for Eddie Howe (Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)However, the new contract came with a £100m release clause. This undoubtedly poses a problem for Newcastle. Following his two-goal salvo at Nottingham Forest, only Kieran Trippier (7.29) has a better WhoScored rating than Guimaraes (7.19) of all Newcastle players in the Premier League this season.
The midfielder is top for tackles (51), fourth for interceptions (20), second for key passes (32) and top for dribbles (38) of all players for Howe's side. He's the ideal all-rounder.
And his performances have caught the eye of Premier League rivals and Europe's heavyweights. PSG have been credited with an interest in Guimaraes. Chelsea and Liverpool have both been linked with a move for the 26-year-old in recent months.
WhoScored's Premier League Team of the WeekLa Liga pair Barcelona and Real Madrid are believed to have thrown their hats in the ring for any potential bidding war for Guimaraes. There are teams that need to strengthen in the middle of the park that wouldn't hesitate to trigger that substantial release clause.
That shouldn't come as a shock, though Guimaraes has quickly quashed rumours linking him with a move away from St. James' Park. "I’m very happy here and I like how the fans think of me here," Guimaraes told Sky Sports earlier this week. Supporters can breathe a sigh of relief, right? Well... not exactly.
As was well documented last month, Newcastle need to make player sales in order to comply with financial fair play regulations, which explains why they were willing to entertain offers for Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson in the winter.
In Guimaraes, the Magpies have a sellable asset that would guarantee at least £100m to help balance the books. That being said, convincing the midfielder to leave Newcastle, even if that clause is triggered, will prove easier said than done.
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Nevertheless, as we edge towards the end of the season, fans will be tetchy at Europe's vultures circling St. James' Park this summer. Guimaraes is not a jack-of-all-trades midfielder; he's close to mastering them.
If anything, £100m would be underselling the former Lyon star, who is not only the glue that holds the Newcastle midfield together, but the driving force that has enabled them to get their campaign back on track following a mid-season wobble.
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