At a glance
- Bruno Guimaraes linked to Red Devils
- Newcastle reporters doubt the claims
- His impact on the Magpies
Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United, following reports after their 7-2 defeat to Barcelona. There were claims made on Thursday that the Brazilian was in talks with the Red Devils.
The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has dismissed the reports, claiming that no one at the club has heard anything about them. He wrote on X:
“No, they’re not. Nobody at Newcastle has heard anything about this, so there are no talks, let alone advanced ones.”
Guimaraes is currently recovering from an injury which has kept him out of Eddie Howe’s team for over a month. He and Sandro Tonali have both been linked with the Red Devils in recent weeks.
Guimaraes links continue
The 28-year-old’s future has been in the rumour mill over the past few weeks, with much of the interest attributed to Manchester United. Earlier this week, reports from Brazil claimed he was stalling his contract talks with the Magpies until the World Cup was over so he could work out his future.
The Tyneside outfit are keen on ensuring he stays in Black and White. But contract talks haven’t advanced, and he has two years left on his deal as of this summer.
Earlier today, Ben Jacobs stated that Guimaraes has an agreement with Newcastle that if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next year, they will listen to offers from a Champions League side.
Michael Carrick’s team are currently third in the table and fighting to return to Europe’s elite competition. If they were to qualify, it could open the door for the Brazilian’s St James’ Park departure.
Newcastle reporters believe ‘talks’ between the player and the Red Devils are false, and no one is holding any advanced talks at this stage. If the Brazilian midfielder were to leave this summer, it would be a massive blow to Howe’s squad.
Trouble without Guimaraes?
Guimaraes is considered a cornerstone within Howe’s side, and he has been crucial to their performances this year when he’s been in the squad. Without him, Newcastle haven’t looked as sharp.
In the 11 games he’s been out with a hamstring injury, they have won five, including two against Qarabag. But he was sorely missed in a humiliating 7-2 loss (8-3 on aggregate) to Barcelona midweek.
There has been a slight improvement in the league, with wins over Chelsea and Manchester United. Guimaraes’ replacement Joe Willock was stellar in the away performance at Stamford Bridge.
The difference is that the Brazilian is consistently good in his performances and is among the best players on the pitch. His replacements can’t deliver the same world-class level every game.
There’s no doubt his departure this summer would be a major loss for the Magpies. His replacement wouldn’t just have to replace his quality, but also his leadership skills, which have been key to Newcastle’s big game execution over the years.
