Who is Bruno Guimaraes? The game changing coup to transform Newcastle midfield

 

"I have always said to my agents that I dream of playing in England, it is the best league in the world, all the matches are close," Bruno Guimaraes said back in 2020 and, if recent reports are to be believed, a move to England may be happening sooner than many may have expected. 

 

Guimaraes has previously had his Premier League admirers, with Chelsea and Arsenal both credited with an interest during his time with Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense before Lyon won the race to secure his services in 2020. The latter remain keen on Guimaraes, but it's another Brazilian, Arthur, who could be moving to the Emirates this week. 

 

Rather, Newcastle have made their intentions clear in having a bid in excess of £30m for the 24-year-old accepted. Lyon could have held out for more given his importance to the side, but the Magpies are prepared to splash the cash to bring in new faces to aid their push for safety. Lyon haven't pulled up any trees this season and currently sit 10th in Ligue 1, but it's a far less perilous position than Newcastle currently find themselves in, so it's a risk for Guimaraes. 

 

Eddie Howe has a number of central midfield options at his disposal, but injury to Joelinton looks to have forced his hand this week, while there is no denying that Guimaraes would be a huge upgrade on those on the books on Tyneside. It's difficult to describe the Brazilian as a specific type of midfielder having previously been compared to a number of those in his position, ranging from holding midfielders to creators-in-chief, yet this speaks more about Guimaraes' master-of-all-trades style. 

 

Of those to have made 10 or more starts in Europe's top five leagues this season, he is one of three players, along with Teji Savanier and Sofiane Boufal, to have averaged at least 1.5 tackles, dribbles, key passes and fouls won per game. It's impossible to categorise him in specific role considering he does plenty so well. What does stand out, though, is the pressing side to his game that has helped boost his reputation. 

 

 

Guimaraes won't simply wait for the ball to come to him, he'll actively hunt it down in order to set his side on the frontfoot and it's no shock to see that he ranks fifth for possession won in the midfield third (71) in Ligue 1 this season, a metric topped by Monaco maestro Aurelien Tchouameni (106). By comparison, Newcastle have won possession in the midfield third the fewest times (383) in the Premier League this season. For a team that has a possession average of just 37.8%, that the lowest in England's top tier, they need a player to win the ball to ease pressure the defence. 

 

This is particularly important when you consider only Norwich (45) have conceded more goals than the Magpies (43) in the Premier League this season. A player of Guimaraes' calibre would undoubtedly aid the defensive side to the game of a Newcastle side that, on Saturday, kept just their second clean sheet of the Premier League season. 

 

In the final third, Guimaraes won't offer much in the way of an additional goal threat, but his best traits lie in his ability to win the ball and drive forward in possession before laying off to those who have a knack for hitting the back of the net. Yet even if a goalscoring chance isn't on, Guimaraes will recycle possession effectively to allow for his teammates to regain their composure and shape. 

 

63.3 passes per game is more than any other Lyon player in Ligue 1 this season, while an 88% pass success rate is the fourth best of those to have made 10 or more league appearances for OL. And if there isn't a pass on, then Guimaraes will work the angle until there is an option for him, even if under pressure. Of the 64 players to have attempted 35 or more dribbles in Ligue 1 this season, Guimaraes has returned a dribble success rate of 75.5%, that the second best in the division.  

 

In short, Newcastle are primed to land a top quality player who'll be crucial in their bid to beat the drop and immediately upgrades an area that needs improvement. Yes, a new centre-back remains high on their list of priorities, but in Guimaraes, Howe will have one of the best all-rounded, box-to-box midfielders on the continent to call upon.

Who is Bruno Guimaraes? The game changing coup to transform Newcastle midfield