When Newcastle United paid £33 million to sign Bruno Guimaraes in the January transfer window, the Premier League giants were expecting a lavishly gifted, all-action playmaker capable of adding both grit and guile to Eddie Howe’s midfield.
What they probably didn’t anticipate, however, is that they’d be getting a goalscorer too.
With four in his last seven starts, Guimaraes has already scored more times for his new employers since May 10th than he did throughout his entire Lyon career.
Sources speaking to The Athletic describe the new darling of St James’ Park as a ‘number six plus’. Emphasis on the plus. A ‘piano-carrier’ capable of playing a pretty tune of his own.
You won’t find many ‘number sixes’ intercepting a loose ball right on the edge of the opposition penalty area before audaciously and outrageously chipping a bamboozled goalkeeper. You won’t find many ‘number sixes’ breaking their neck to power home a 95th minute winner, as Bruno did against Leicester City earlier this month.
Hojbjerg and Bruno; A perfect partnership
Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock have been men reborn since Howe replaced Steve Bruce at St James’ Park in November. Bring in a specialist defensive midfielder, however, and Bruno could reach another level entirely.
A scary thought indeed.
According to The Mirror, Newcastle are ‘planning’ a £30 million move for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Tottenham’s totemic, tattooed, tacke-happy tough man. Hojbjerg, despite being one of the first names on the Spurs team sheet since arriving from Southampton in 2020, is suddenly facing an uncertain future in North London. Antonio Conte – who reportedly has high hopes for a partnership of Oliver Skipp and Rodrigo Bentancur – making another central midfielder one of his top summer targets.
Put simply, Hojbjerg and Bruno look like a match made in midfield heaven. One to scrap, one to scheme. One to patrol in front of the defence, like a snarling bulldog guarding his family home and barking furiously at any potential intruders, while the other joins in at the other end of the pitch, his balletic footwork, heat-seeking vision and new-found scoring streak put to the best possible use.
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Bruno, alongside Shelvey, Willock and Joelinton, has been a huge success. Bruno, alongside a top-class number six in Hojbjerg, could be almost unplayable.
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