​Some press conferences linger in the memory more than others, and Bruno Guimaraes made an immediate, lasting impression when he was unveiled after a £35m move from Lyon to Newcastle United. In January 2022, he declared that the club would become a major force in world football. At the time, Newcastle were rooted at 19th in the Premier League, but Guimaraes had reasons to believe. The club’s hierarchy had signalled ambitions to reach the Champions League and even to pursue victory in the competition, all while Premier League survival hung in the balance. Eddie Howe’s team soon pulled away from relegation danger, qualified for the Champions League in two of the following three seasons, and broke Newcastle’s 70-year drought by winning a major domestic trophy with the EFL Cup in 2025.
Yet the path forward now feels uncertain. Senior Newcastle figures insist the club still aims big in the long term, but the project has reached a crossroads. Alexander Isak pressed for a move to Liverpool last summer, and Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona in May. Tottenham have opened with a bid around £80m for Sandro Tonali, and Arsenal are ready to bid for Guimaraes. Some of football’s wealthiest clubs sense a chance to take Newcastle’s best players. So, can Newcastle hold onto Guimaraes, their crown jewel?
He is described as “the most important player in the team.” Newcastle are adamant that Guimaraes is not for sale, and so far Arsenal have not made a formal approach. While some might argue that selling now would make sense—he turns 29 in November and has two years left on his contract—Guimaraes is Newcastle’s captain and talisman. His quality is undeniable; he topped the World Cup assists chart by setting up Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner against Japan, with a fourth assist in four games at the tournament. This is the measure of his impact. Behind the scenes, staff describe him as an “inspirational” figure, and former teammate Emil Krafth has witnessed his influence firsthand after four and a half years together at Newcastle. “He’s the most important player in the team,” Krafth said. “He manages the game so well, both physically and technically. I hope they can keep him.” With plenty of rumours swirling after a successful World Cup and a strong season, Guimaraes’ status as the heartbeat of the team is clear, even as Newcastle’ bruising domestic campaign saw them slip to 12th in the league, a downturn that only underscores the weight of Guimaraes’ influence.