It does not take a genius to suggest Bruno Guimaraes will likely attract interest from elsewhere.
Newcastleâs star player is simply too good to be ignored and, while there is little to suggest the club would countenance a sale, the links are already starting.
Indeed, the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City have recently been touted as potential landing spots, although there is also talk of the 25-year-old being in line for a new contract at St Jamesâ Park.
While interest from clubs the stature of the ones previously mentioned is worrisome, perhaps this time things really are different.
Newcastle have a great chance of keeping Guimaraes
With Guimaraes himself said to be keen to stay on Tyneside should the club challenge for trophies, Newcastle would appear to have his destiny in their hands.
As long as they fulfil their end of the bargain and continue to invest and improve in equal measure, they will be a project to match the likes of Chelsea and Cityâs.
That is also the view of talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan, who backed Newcastleâs chances of keeping their star man.
âIf youâve got a proposition like Newcastle and youâre prepared to pay players what Newcastle might have to pay players to be the best in the business, then why wouldnât you choose them?â he said on White and Jordan (11:54 on 10/03/2023).
âThis is a football club thatâs alive right now. Itâs absolutely alive, itâs the absolute bedrock of football. Itâs what football should look like, a fanbase entirely in line with its ownership, entirely in line with its team, a group of players that absolutely want to play for that football club and a region thatâs alive.â
Bruno future the first real battle of the PIF era
In the PIF era, itâs all been about trying to bring players to Newcastle.
Still, any attempts to snatch the former Lyon star away from St Jamesâ Park would be the first true test of the clubâs new owners. Little about what theyâve done so far would suggest they would cave and sell up, but it would certainly be interesting to see how they deal with it.
Chelsea and City have rarely sold players against their will. Newcastle must do the same.