When Bruno Guimaraes addressed the media after joining Newcastle United from Lyon for £35 million in January 2022, he made a bold declaration: Newcastle were going to become a major power in world football. At the time, the club sat 19th in the Premier League. Few were convinced. Guimaraes, it turned out, knew what he was talking about.
Under Eddie Howe, Newcastle pulled clear of relegation danger, qualified for the UEFA Champions League in two of the next three seasons, and in 2025 ended a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by lifting the EFL Cup. Yet the project now appears to have reached a decisive turning point.
A prized squad being picked apart
Alexander Isak secured a move to Liverpool last summer. Anthony Gordon completed his transfer to Barcelona in May this year. Now Tottenham Hotspur have submitted an opening bid of around £80 million for Sandro Tonali, and Arsenal are preparing to make a formal offer for Guimaraes himself.
Newcastle insist their captain is not for sale, and Arsenal have not yet submitted an approach. But the intent from top clubs is clear — they sense an opening at St James' Park.
Why Newcastle cannot afford to lose him
Guimaraes is not simply Newcastle's best player; he is the engine of everything they do. Even in a difficult domestic season that saw Newcastle finish 12th in the Premier League, he ended the campaign as the club's top scorer with nine league goals — a remarkable return for a central midfielder.
He scored opening goals against Nottingham Forest, Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur, and Crystal Palace as Newcastle collected 10 points from a possible 12 in those fixtures. He also delivered a 90th-minute winner against Fulham and a stoppage-time penalty equaliser against Leeds United in a match Newcastle ultimately won.
Despite missing a substantial portion of the season through injury, Guimaraes still ranked in the top five players across the entire Premier League for defensive line-breaking passes (46) and through balls (21). He also led Newcastle's squad for passes completed under high-intensity pressure, with 998 — a figure that underscores his desire to be involved when it matters most.
At the 2026 World Cup, he surged to the top of the assists chart, setting up Gabriel Martinelli's late winner against Japan — his fourth assist in four games at the tournament.
Former Newcastle team-mate Emil Krafth, who spent four and a half years alongside the Brazilian, is unequivocal about his importance.
