It’s difficult to find too many negatives around Newcastle United at the moment, but the injury picked up by Bruno Guimaraes during Saturday’s victory over Fulham has more than a few fans concerned.
The Brazilian’s playmaking ability in the middle of the park has been crucial for the Magpies, and it’s no coincidence that his signing 12 months ago has coincided with a remarkable year of results that has seen Newcastle transform from relegation favourites to genuine Champions League contenders.
It’s cruel, then, that Bruno could be about to influence United’s January strategy for a second winter in a row. While last year saw the £40 million signing from Lyon ignite Newcastle’s season, this year could see Eddie Howe shopping for his replacement - particularly with numbers already light in midfield given the absence of Jonjo Shelvey.
A number of midfield options have already been mentioned in this month’s rumour mill, not least James Maddison, who was the subject of serious interest from United last summer.
The Leicester City man has injury issues of his own, but while there’s still no timescale on his return, Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers remains optimistic. "He is as frustrated as everyone else," Rodgers said last week. "Hopefully it will not be too long before he will be back on the field again."
Maddison’s teammate Youri Tielemans is another name linked with a move to Tyneside, and his departure from Leicester seems increasingly likely with the Belgium international yet to extend his contract beyond the end of this season.
Perhaps most exciting of all is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, with reports suggesting Newcastle were ‘ready to bid’ for the towering Lazio midfielder. Still only 27, the Serbian has been one of the biggest talents in Serie A for years, with Premier League interest often fizzling out over Lazio’s price tag, which is thought to exceed £80 million.
Would you prioritise Maddison, Tielemans or Milinkovic-Savic this month? Or are there other areas you think United should strengthen first? Have your say by using the Rank Your Targets tool above, and let us know your thoughts in the comments…
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