Lyon have resigned themselves to losing Bruno Guimaraes to Premier League outfit Newcastle United and are already scouring the market for a replacement, as reported by FootMercato.
How they needed that. A 1-0 win over Rhone rivals St Etienne on Friday lifted the gloom hanging over the Groupama Stadium. Well, for a couple of days at least.
Six days later, that hard-fought win over their relegation-threatened neighbours is now threatening to look one step forward followed by two big leaps in the other direction.
Lyon’s embattled head coach Peter Bosz had gone public with his desire to bring Sardar Azmoun to France. The Zenit St Petersburg striker has signed a pre-contract agreement with Bayer Leverkusen instead.
And, after missing out on their number one January target, Lyon are now about to see their £21 million Brazil international board a flight and jet off across the Channel between now and Monday’s transfer deadline.
When will Bruno Guimaraes sign for Newcastle?
Lyon have distanced themselves from reports suggesting that a £33 million deal has been agreed for the metronomic Guimaraes. But Newcastle have submitted an offer, one that Lyon may have no choice but to accept.
According to The Athletic, Guimaraes, who recently distanced himself from a potential move to Arsenal, is set to undergo a medical at St James’ Park in the coming days.
And with Lyon now kick-starting their pursuit of a replacement, it would be a major surprise now if Guimaraes wasn’t a Newcastle player in time for their next Premier League fixture against fellow relegation battlers Everton on February 8th.
“We currently lack a playmaker,” Brazil coach Tite said last year, explaining the importance of Guimaraes to the Selecao set-up.
“A player like Falcao in the past. Or like (Kevin) De Bruyne today. Someone able to play deeper to help Casemiro or sometimes higher to bring more creativity, speed and rhythm.
“Bruno Guimaraes has enormous potential and can be that player.”
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