Newcastle United are reportedly getting closer to securing a new contract for Bruno Guimaraes.
The Lowdown: Guimaraes' time at Newcastle
The Magpies signed the Brazilian from Lyon last January transfer in a deal worth a reported fee of £40m. Since then, the 25-year-old has made 32 appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring eight goals and delivering three assists along the way.
With the Premier League set to resume in the coming days, some details have emerged regarding the Magpies' behind-the-scenes efforts to secure the midfielder's future.
The Latest: Newcastle getting closer to Guimaraes deal
According to a recent report from Football Insider, Newcastle are making good progress on agreeing a new contract with Guimaraes which would see him earn £200,000 per week.
The report adds that the club have made preliminary contact with the player's camp and hope that he will put pen to paper on a lucrative contract extension in the coming months which would be worth up to £60m in total and see him become the highest-paid player in Newcastle’s history.
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The Verdict: Great move for Newcastle
In addition to scoring three goals and supplying two assists in his 12 league appearances this season, the midfielder has shown in other areas of his game just how important he is to Eddie Howe's side.
From a defensive point of view, only two Newcastle players have made a higher combined total of tackles and interceptions than Guimaraes (46). Furthermore, only Kieran Trippier (107) has made more recoveries than the Brazilian (105), which shows how effective he is off the ball as well as in possession in attacking situations.
Guimaraes' overall performances have earned him a strong season rating of 7.33/10 from WhoScored, making him the second-highest rated player at St James' Park.
With Howe previously praising the player for his "outstanding" performances, it's easy to see why PIF are keen to offer the midfielder a new and improved contract, which we feel would be a great move for all parties.