Chelsea want to sign the Newcastle midfielder in January, but he is set to receive a lucrative contract offer.
(Image credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Chelsea will try to prise Bruno Guimaraes away from Newcastle United in January, say reports, but the Magpies are ready to make the midfielder their highest-paid player ever.
The Brazilian has been one of the key men for Eddie Howe’s side so far this season and has impressed in the Premier League since his £40 million arrival from Lyon in January.
Guimaraes has a deal until 2026 at St. James’ Park, but that won’t stop the Blues from making an ambitious move, according to Goal.
Graham Potter's side are looking to reinforce the midfield. (Image credit: Getty)
With N’Golo Kante and Jorginho in the final year of their deals, reinforcing the central midfield area is a priority for Chelsea.
A January bid for Guimaraes is therefore being considered at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea broke the all-time record for transfer spend in a single window during the summer, splashing out around £278m on a string of new signings including Raheem Sterling, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella.
But Newcastle want to stop the Blues bidding machine in its tracks by offering Guimaraes a contract extension on lucrative terms.
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Guimaraes could become Newcastle's highest-paid player ever. (Image credit: Getty)
The new deal could be worth as much as £200,000 per week, which would make the 24-year-old the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
Guimaraes, an eight-time Brazil international, has two goals and two assists to his name from nine Premier League appearances this season.
His form has helped propel Howe’s men into fourth place, seven points off league leaders Arsenal.
Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.
