Why Newcastle signed Bruno Guimaraes over SIX midfield transfer targets including Wijnaldum and Bissouma
NEWCASTLE were linked with a number of high-profile midfield stars in this January's transfer window.
Toon boss Eddie Howe made it clear that he planned to overhaul the Magpies midfield in a bid for Premier League survival.
Brighton ace Yves Bissouma and Paris Saint-Germain star Gini Wijnaldum were among six transfer targets that Howe had placed on his list.
But in the end, Lyon ace Bruno Guimaraes was the man the Magpies put their faith in.
The Magpies completed Guimaraes' signing from Lyon earlier today for a club-record fee of £43million.
But the Brazil ace is worth every penny in the eyes of the uber-rich Tyneside club.
According to , Guimaraes is the man that Newcastle plan to build the club around in the future.
The Magpies reckon the 24-year-old can provide all the elements they need in the middle of the park.
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And they feel that in their record signing - they've not got a conventional No.6 - but a No.6 PLUS that can help the club retain possession a lot more consistently than they have been with his passing and ball-holding abilities.
A well-placed source was quoted by the Athletic to have said Guimaraes is an “All-court midfielder, giving Newcastle a bit of everything they lack in the middle… almost a ‘No 6-plus'."
But Newcastle weren't confident that they could convince a player of Guimaraes' stature to join them when they first started to pursue him - a worry they had conveyed to Lyon.
Which is another reason why the Toon are jubilant about bringing him to the club, The Athletic went on to say.
Along with Wijnaldum and Bissouma, the Magpies were also looking at Manchester United star Donny van de Beek, Real Madrid maestro Toni Kroos, and Juventus ace Aaron Ramsey.
Tottenham outcast Dele Alli was also on Howe's list along with Leicester City's robust midfielder Hamza Choudhury.