Bruno Guimaraes stance on his Newcastle United future as Manchester City pursuit takes ‘major twist’

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Newcastle United have the task of retaining key players at the end of the season.

So far this season, it has looked like Newcastle United will qualify to play European football next season. The Magpies are currently sat sixth in the Premier League table but are aiming for a top-five finish at least to get them back into the Champions League after missing out this season.

A boost for Toon boss Eddie Howe is that Newcastle will play in Europe if they win the Carabao Cup, they will take on Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in March – the winner will automatically play in the Europa League.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
5	Man CityManchester City	24	12	5	7	48	35	13	41
6	NewcastleNewcastle	24	12	5	7	42	29	13	41
7	B’mouthBournemouth	24	11	7	6	41	28	13	40

It is of high importance that Newcastle qualify for Europe, failure to do so could see them lose important players to other clubs in the summer.

Alexander Isak wants to play in the Champions League – discussions between Isak and Newcastle over a new deal are set to begin at the end of the season but they could easily be called off if things go pearshaped.

With Newcastle’s plans for next season still up in the air, the club could be set for a shock twist in the summer involving one of Howe’s key players.

• READ MORE: All of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United signings, ranked

Manchester City eyeing summer Bruno Guimaraes approach

Bruno Guimaraes has been a sensational captain for Newcastle this season. The Brazilian was given the accolade at the start of the season and has run with it.

Guimaraes revealed his desire to be more involved at Newcastle before the season started, which prompted Howe to name him captain for the season. While Guimaraes has performed exceptionally this season, there has been transfer interest from the Premier League and Europe.

In the summer, Manchester City were interested in Guimaraes, but his £100m price tag was offputting for his admirers. Before the transfer deadline in January, Barcelona expressed an interest in Guimaraes – their financial problems mean they would have to sell before buying.

Now, according to GiveMeSport, Man City are weighing up a summer approach for Guimaraes in what has been deemed a ‘major twist’.

However, the report suggests that Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final and top-four chances could tempt the 27-year-old, who has three-and-a-half-years left on his current deal, to stay at the club for the long term.

Howe and sporting director Paul Mitchell are reportedly ‘desperate’ to keep Guimaraes at the club for next season and beyond.

Bruno Guimaraes Newcastle influence is felt everywhere

There is no doubt that Guimaraes is a spectacular captain; the Brazilian is fully bought into the project at Newcastle.

After Newcastle’s 2-0 win against Arsenal, Guimaraes took to social media to thank the fans for their noise. Alan Shearer called Guimaraes ‘brilliant’ for his performance in the win.

Elsewhere, Guimaraes dedicated Newcastle’s win to Rob Lee after it was revealed that the Toon Hall of Famer could not attend the game after having a knee operation.

As captain, Guimaraes has ensured that his influence is felt everywhere – whether it is on the pitch or through social media.

The 27-year-old was even caught running around his house in celebration after Newcastle’s first-leg win against Arsenal in January.