New contract, same problem – Bruno's Newcastle deal doesn't solve Tonali issue
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 23 Sept 2023 14:31 BST
- 4 min read
Bruno Guimaraes has agreed a new five-year contract with Newcastle but, with the fresh terms set to include a release clause in excess of £100 million and a partnership with Sandro Tonali still proving unconvincing, the Brazilian’s future is more unclear than ever.
Guimaraes has been a revelation for Newcastle since signing in January last year, instantly becoming a fan favourite and becoming the focal point of Eddie Howe’s side.
Signing the 25-year-old to new and improved terms was a top priority to Newcastle, particularly after the signing of Tonali, which saw the Italian become one of the club’s top earners after his £55m move from Milan this summer.
EXCLUSIVE: European giants made failed proposals for Guimaraes this summer
The arrival of Tonali raised eyebrows with fans, not just because of the 23-year-old’s pedigree but also because Newcastle were expected to target a specialised ‘number six’ in order to allow Guimaraes to flourish in a more attacking role.
Instead, the Serie A winner was brought in as Howe’s ‘top target’, implying the Newcastle boss had a vision in mind to get the best out of him and Guimaraes, despite the overlaps in their playstyle instead of Tonali being a natural compliment.
But the pairing his been uncomfortable in the early stages of the season and Guimaraes now having a fixed market value could be the catalyst to his eventual departure if he and Tonali cannot make it work.
Why Bruno could become a financial casualty despite Newcastle’s riches
Tonali started his Newcastle career off perfectly, netting just six minutes into his debut, but the Magpies have struggled since, winning just one of their five following games.
The player himself admitted to teething issues with settling in and Newcastle have broken their rule of not hiring an interpreter in order to help Tonali adapt to the language barrier.
However, Tonali praised his teammates efforts of helping him settle and he has formed a bond with Guimaraes off the pitch, even if their chemistry on it is still developing.
LOOKBACK: How Sandro Tonali played on his return to Milan in Champions League
Both players fit the mould of hard-working and technical stars who are as adept on the ball as they are off it and their partnership will naturally improve over time.
But Newcastle find themselves in a lurch with financial fair play regulations and had to reluctantly sell Allan Saint-Maximin this summer to fund their business – and more key players could be cashed in on if the Magpies fail to continue qualifying for the Champions League, with a lack of sellable assets outside their star men.
Consequently, Guimaraes could find himself as the odd man out despite Tonali refusing to rule out a return to Milan recently, with the Brazil international’s new clause seemingly taking his future out of Newcastle’s hands.
Any team interested in Guimaraes would have to pay a similar amount to the fees commanded for Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo this summer – a figure which most fans would deem fair ¬– but with Newcastle’s ambitions of eventually building a title-contending squad, Howe needs to get the best out of his midfielders or risk one of them being pushed to the side.
