Keith Downie has told Give Me Sport that a source has informed him about a Newcastle medical for Bruno Guimaraes. Reports claim that The Toon have upped their offer from £33.5million, to £43million and a deal is close.
Bruno, 24, has caught the eye after shining for Lyon over the past two years – following a move from Brazilian side Atletico Paranense. So much so, that he has broken into Brazil’s national team, winning three caps.
L’Equipe reported on Thursday that Newcastle have increased their initial offer by £9.5million and a deal to take the midfielder to Tyneside is close. He is currently in Ecuador, ahead of Brazil’s match on Thursday evening.
With L’Equipe reporting a deal is ‘close to succeeding’, Sky Sports reporter Downie gave an update on Give Me Sport. He says a trusted source has informed him that Newcastle hope a medical can be done on Friday.
“From what I was told yesterday, a medical was essentially pencilled in for the next 48 hours. I think initially they were hoping it was going to be yesterday,” Downie told GMS on Thursday.
“Then they realised it wouldn’t get done in time to get him out of international duty, so then it was going to be Friday. So, we are hearing that kind of thing from a good source I trust implicitly.”
Downie on Bruno: Newcastle signs are looking good ahead of deadline
The initial reports looked somewhat bleak, given that Newcastle and Lyon were struggling to come to terms over the initial fee – and the way it was structured. But now, it appears that Newcastle are going to get it done.
Increasing the initial fee by £1.5million, and then adding £8million in add-ons just gives Lyon that future incentive to agree an exit for Bruno. It is still a relatively cheap move for a player that is still only 24.
While Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood might be short-term fixes, Bruno is a player that could be the face of the long-term revival of the sleeping giant that is Newcastle. An excellent bit of business.
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