Newcastle have reached an agreement with Brighton to buy the centre-back Dan Burn for about £12.5m. The 29-year-old is due for a medical on Sunday, while the club have confirmed the signing of Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimarães, who will cost £33.3m, rising to a possible £40m with add-ons.
The two latest deals, along with the previous purchases of Kieran Trippier (£12m) and Chris Wood (£25m), will take the Premier League club’s spending under their new Saudi-backed owners to £80m in this transfer window.
Brazil international Guimarães has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with the Magpies, and will wear shirt number 39. “Bruno is a hugely exciting talent and has been one of our primary targets so I’m delighted to secure him,” said the Newcastle manager. “He strengthens the group immediately ready for the challenge ahead. We look forward to welcoming him to the club on his return from international duty.”
Newcastle had an £8m offer for Burn rejected last week but returned with a figure acceptable to Brighton after Eddie Howe made the 6ft 7in former Wigan and Fulham player a priority target. Burn, born in Blyth, Northumberland, grew up supporting Newcastle and has been keen on the move.
Looking good, @brunoog97! 🤩🤙
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 30, 2022
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Howe will be relieved to have landed a centre-back after being frustrated in pursuit of Lille’s Sven Botman and Sevilla’s Diego Carlos. The manager hopes to make further additions before Monday’s deadline, notably at left-back and in attack, where Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah is high on his list.
Spending in the post-Mike Ashley era was expected to change dramatically and the profile of signings has altered appreciably too. Ashley favoured younger players with resale value but Newcastle, largely thinking short-term amid a relegation battle, have so far bought or agreed deals for players aged 31 (Trippier), 30 (Wood) and 29 (Burn) as well as the 24-year-old Guimarães. Nketiah is 22.
