Danny Murphy believes neither Premier League giants Liverpool nor any of Bruno Guimaraes’ other suitors have a chance in hell of landing the Newcastle United star during the summer transfer window.
Now, we don’t know about you, but we’d be a little unnerved if a complete stranger decided to ink our face permanently upon his forearm.
It’s to Bruno Guimaraes’s eternal credit, then, that he dealt rather better than old Alan Partridge did when coming face to face with his very own Jed Maxwell.
“They spot me and start yelling my name, wanting to take a picture,” arguably Newcastle’s most popular player since the Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye era told FourFourTwo last year.
“I’ve met people who’ve got a tattoo with my face on! It’s nuts. That’s the love fans have.”
That adoration, meanwhile, is reciprocated by a player who, since his £35 million move from Lyon 15 months ago, has blossomed into one of the most complete, all-round central midfield talents anywhere in the Premier League.
Guimaraes admitted only a couple of weeks ago – while picking up the North East Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Player of the Year award – that he hopes to scribe his name into Newcastle United’s folklore. Alongside Alan Shearer, David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and co.
He’s certainly going about things the right way.
Liverpool are big fans of Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes
“Super player. Super player. He has got that lovely balance of creativity, passing and skill with an appetite to work back, defend and spot danger,” Murphy tells talkSPORT (26 April, 12pm).
“When you’ve got that balance, and you’re good at both, you become an elite footballer.”
Liverpool are scouring the market for alternatives to Jude Bellingham; Borussia Dortmund’s £130 million asking price a little rich for FSG’s blood. But, as the Liverpool Echo point out, there’s not much hope of Guimaraes ending up at Anfield this summer. Even if the Merseyside giants are ‘huge admirers’ of a man Everton turned down during his time in Brazil.
Murphy, a former Liverpool favourite, shares that pessimism.
“He is a god up there (at Newcastle). And he won’t be going anywhere. No chance.”
Guimaraes’ supreme form is a big reason why Newcastle are closing in on Champions League qualification. In 25 Premier League games, he has three goals and four assists so far.
“Bruno is one of those rare players,” team-mate Dan Burn tells The Chronicle. “That have just got that class where you give him the ball anywhere…
“Just the way they move their body and move the ball. Really world-class.”
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