Newcastle surge into the race to sign their new Bruno Guimaraes for £30m

Newcastle United central midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has made a welcome return to the starting line-up after missing a couple of months of action with a hamstring injury.

The Magpies failed to win in eight of the 13 matches that the Brazil international missed as a starter before he returned to the XI against Arsenal at the end of last month.

Guimaraes started in the 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend and caught the eye by winning seven of his ten duels and providing an assist for Dan Burn’s goal.

The 28-year-old star has now scored nine goals and provided five assists in 26 appearances in the Premier League for Newcastle this season, providing a key attacking threat from the middle of the park.

Alongside his work in possession, Guimaraes averages 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game and has won 52% of his ground duels in the division for the Magpies.

Newcastle join the race to sign Premier League central midfielder

Eddie Howe‘s team struggled without him in the team, winning just five of 13 games, during his recent spell out of the XI, which suggests that the club need to find a player who can step in when he is unavailable.

The Magpies are now reportedly looking at a Premier League talent who has shades of Guimaraes and could solve the club’s problem with their depth in that position.

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle United have joined the queue of teams hoping to sign Liverpool central midfielder Curtis Jones in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Magpies and Serie A champions Inter are both plotting a move to snap up the England international if he becomes available in the off-season.

It adds that the Reds were unwilling to allow him to move on from Anfield in the January transfer window, but that their stance may change ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Newcastle are prepared to make an official approach to sign the English star, who was valued at £30m earlier this year.

How Curtis Jones could be Newcastle’s new Bruno Guimaraes

Signing Jones from Liverpool would ensure that the Magpies are not left without creativity in the middle of the park when Guimaraes is unavailable to play through injury or suspension.

Like the Brazilian, the Reds midfielder has shown that he can create chances at an impressive rate in the Premier League, ranking in the top 21% of midfielders in the division for xA created per 90 with 0.14.

The 25-year-old talent, who was once hailed as “outstanding” by Arne Slot, also produced three goals and six assists in all competitions for Liverpool in the 2024/25 campaign.

Jones has the technical ability and creativity to provide the sort of invention that Guimaraes produces every time he steps on the pitch for Newcastle, which is exactly what Howe needs more of.

The £30m-rated talent has also showcased his versatility in recent weeks for the Reds by excelling at right-back, particularly in his side’s derby win over Everton last month.

No player has won more ball recoveries in a single match than Jones did against the Toffees (16), as he proved that he can defend well and do a job for the team.

Jones is not a luxury player who is only in the team to create chances and look silky on the ball. He can get stuck in and win his duels in the middle of the park or at right-back, winning 55% of his ground duels in the league this season.

Like Guimaraes, the England international mixes technical quality and creativity with grit and hard work out of possession, which makes him a complete midfielder who can impact games on and off the ball.

Newcastle must now push to beat Inter to the Liverpool star’s signature if he becomes available this summer, as he could be an excellent addition to Howe’s midfield as another Guimaraes-esque creative talent.