Newcastle United told transfer plans must include Bruno Guimaraes as exits predicted

Newcastle United have been told what they must do to retain the services of influential midfielder Bruno Guimaraes - and how they should deal with any player wanting to leave St James Park this summer.

The Brazilian midfielder was a somewhat surprise signing when he joined the Magpies in December 2022 as Eddie Howe and his players were in the midst of what would be a successful battle against relegation from the Premier League. After playing a key role in helping his new side preserve their top flight status, Guimaraes went on the become integral in Howe’s side over the years that followed as he helped Newcastle secure two Champions League qualifications and two appearances in the Carabao Cup final.

The former Lyon man also became the first Magpies captain to lift major domestic silverware since 1955 when he lifted the Carabao Cup following a 2-1 win against Liverpool last season and remains a firm favourite with the St James Park faithful. Despite links with moves away from Tyneside, Guimaraes remains under contract until the summer of 2028 and there has been talk of an extension. Former Magpies captain Rob Lee believes Newcastle must add more quality around their current skipper to ensure his stint in black and white is extended and insisted any player wanting to depart this summer should be allowed to leave ‘at the right price’.

He told the Adopted Geordies podcast: “Bruno will still be here. He seems like he loves the club but in order to keep these top, top players you’ve got to bring top, top players in. If in 12 months time he sees us not bringing top players in, with all due respect, if he wanted to leave I’d have no problem with it. The world class players you bring in, they demand you bring in good players to play with them. There’s no point bringing Bruno in and we are playing in the Championship. I don’t think we ever will again but you need to bring world class players in with him. If the players that are playing here don’t want to be here, regardless of how good they are, you have to get rid of them for the right price for the team.”

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