Newcastle United continue to be linked with Lyon star Lucas Paqueta – and Bruno Guimaraes has publicly called on him to join.
Paqueta’s name has been linked to Newcastle throughout 2022, even before Guimaraes left Lyon for Newcastle.
Reports from France back in December suggested that Newcastle offered Paqueta an eye-watering deal worth around £180,000-a-week.
Paqueta said no, instead preferring to stay at Lyon and wait for a bigger club to come in – preferably one in Europe.
The Newcastle rumours haven’t stopped though. The Chronicle claim that Newcastle scout Steve Nickson has watched Paqueta on multiple occasions.
Newcastle and Arsenal are allegedly locked in a battle for £58million transfer with Paris Saint-Germain backing away.
The big selling point for Paqueta may be that his friend Guimaraes is already at Newcastle.
The pair were close at Lyon and Paqueta even went to watch Guimaraes play for Newcastle against Southampton and celebrated his goal.
There seems to be real hope that Newcastle can actually tempt Paqueta to St James’ Park, adding a superb playmaker to their ranks.
Paqueta, 24, has bagged 10 goals and six assists in 40 games for Lyon this season, playing mostly as a number 10.
Guimaraes has now had his stay when speaking to Newcastle’s matchday programme ahead of facing Crystal Palace.
As quoted by Newcastle World, Guimaraes suggested Paqueta when asked which former teammate he would most want Newcastle to sign.
Guimaraes noted that Guimaraes is his ‘best friend’ and they are always talking to each other.
Guimaraes praised Paqueta as a ‘great guy’ with a ‘massive heart’, talking up his fellow Brazilian in style.
“Ah, Lucas Paqueta. He is my brother, my best friend and I really get on great with him,” said Guimaraes. “We have the same way of thinking, we are the same age and we were together everything day – always talking to each other.”
“He is a family member that football has given me and I hope that he’s happy wherever he is. He’s a great guy, he has a massive heart and people like that deserve the very best,” he added.
This may just give Newcastle fans hope of a Paqueta deal, as if anybody can convince him to join the Magpies, it’s certainly Guimaraes.
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