Bruno Guimaraes is, as always, making headlines.
The Brazil international has been superb for Newcastle United and with so many of his teammates missing so many matches, has really held things together in midfield.
In addition, he has really upped his discipline levels.
With a two game Premier League ban seeming inevitable, reaching nine Premier League yellows in the defeat against Man City in January, a sixth game in a row (in all competitions) where he had been booked. Bruno Guimaraes then starting with the FA Cup win over Fulham, has now gone 12 matches in a row (all competitions) without a single booking. He new needs to navigate this Fulham match and then Spurs, to avoid a tenth yellow in the opening 32 PL matches and what would be an automatic two game ban.
Of course, it isn’t just performances and discipline that Bruno Guimaraes makes headlines for.
There is a daily stream of claims that NUFC’s number 39 will be moving on this summer and that indeed, it will be Newcastle United wanting to sell him…
On Friday morning Eddie Howe has been asked about the endless Bruno Guimaraes speculation about leaving this summer, as reported by Sky Sports:
“Let me tell you, players like Bruno aren’t around every corner.
“They are very, very rare.
“He should be appreciated for everything he brings.
““My intention would be to keep Bruno at the football club for as long as we possibly can.
“But I can never make any guarantees as that would be absolutely foolish.
“Who knows what the future holds?
“But our part in this is to try and make the players feel at home and feel happy.
“Develop them, develop their talents, develop their careers, and hopefully that’s enough to keep them here for a long time.”
The media is so embarrassing and predictable these days, you can absolutely guarantee that these Eddie Howe quotes will become distorted headlines along the theme of ‘Eddie Howe says no guarantees Bruno Guimaraes is staying…’
The Newcastle United Head Coach is most definitely NOT saying that.
I think fair to say that Isak and Bruno are Newcastle United’s best two players, so why would Eddie Howe and NUFC be wanting to sell either of them, rather than squad players who wouldn’t be in the first choice eleven next season?
If players are to be sold to balance the books a bit AND most importantly give Newcastle a bigger reach where bringing in players is concerned, with regards to PSR/FFP, the amortisation side of things allowing you then to spend far more on new signings if you choose to do so, over and above the actual transfer fees generated. Why sell Bruno Guimaraes, the heartbeat of your team?
Bruno Guimaraes with his words AND actions, repeatedly proves just how much he loves being at Newcastle United. Will he leave one day? Well the overwhelming majority of players do indeed leave any club one day and Bruno Guimaraes will probably not be one of the rare exceptions. However, I think it is well wide of the mark to believe that this summer will see either Bruno or the club pushing for this to happen.
I believe for sure that Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak will already be looking forward to next season and hopefully showing just what a force Newcastle United can be, with a close to fully available first team squad.