Abdulhafiz TeslimNewcastle United still have their hackles raised as Arsenal continue to circle St. James’ Park, biding their time and keeping their eyes trained on Bruno Guimaraes.
Who can be optimistic? The overwhelming feeling is one of resignation, even now, with the Magpies remaining defiant. PIF want at least £100m for the skipper, matching the fee Tottenham Hotspur paid to sign Sandro Tonali earlier in the transfer window.
Eddie Howe has been tasked with leading Newcastle back into the limelight, but it is going to be tough, with the Toon struggling through the summer transfer window once again.
PIF have just pulled off a priceless midfield signing, landing Monaco midfielder Aladji Bamba. Could he be Bruno’s long-term successor?
Why Bamba can be Guimaraes’ long-term replacement
Losing Guimaraes this summer would be detrimental to the progression of the Newcastle project. He is the beating heart of Howe’s team, and there is no reason for Newcastle to sell.
But the pressure applied by the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool can be akin to the unstoppable clamp of a hydraulic press, and there is still a long, long way to go before safety.
Bamba has the skillset to replace Guimaraes in the long run, but Howe and Co. will hope that both players are lining up together at St. James’ Park next year.
The “ball-winning monster”, as noted by Newcastle writer Bradley Robson, will join the Toon in a deal worth up to £35m. He is only 20, but there is a lot to like, with the youngster already showing his physicality and composure on the ball to suggest he could one day step into Guimaraes’ boots.
League Form Comparison (2025/26)
Stats (* per 90)| Bamba| Guimaraes
Matches (starts)| 18 (10)| 29 (27)
Goals + Assists| 0 + 2| 9 + 5
Touches*| 37.8| 70.1
Accurate passes*| 23.4 (82%)| 43.1 (86%)
Big chances created| 4| 7
Key passes*| 0.7| 1.6
Possession lost*| 7.3| 14.0
Successful dribbles*| 0.8 (70%)| 0.6 (38%)
Ball recoveries*| 2.8| 4.7
Tackles + interceptions*| 2.2| 2.6
Clearances*| 0.8| 1.2
Duels won*| 4.6 (55%)| 5.8 (50%)
If Arsenal manage to bring the Brazilian superstar back to the Emirates this summer, though, Bamba may not be able to cover such ground on his own.
Newcastle need someone else in the middle of the park.
Newcastle still interested in signing Brazil midfielder
Bamba is an exciting talent, a physical dueller who could become a difference-maker over the years to come. However, it is important that he is not overburdened from the start, and Newcastle may want to add another cog to their midfield machine.
According to BBC Sport, Newcastle have expressed interest in Botafogo midfielder Danilo Santos, with talks reportedly having taken place regarding a potential deal.
Danilo, aged 25, is also attracting attention from Manchester United, while both Zenit and Palmeiras have recently lodged £25m offers.
A member of Brazil’s World Cup squad, Danilo is on Howe’s shortlist, although it remains unclear whether Newcastle will submit an official offer in the coming weeks.
After all, Newcastle have just signed a second midfielder of the summer, but Bamba is only 20 years old, and Sean Steur is even younger. If Arsenal persist with their bid to sign Guimaraes in a nine-digit deal, Danilo could be a ready-made replacement—a monstrous goalscorer from midfield who is also combative and measured when he needs to be.
The former Nottingham Forest star has made significant improvements since returning to his homeland, and he would rejoin the Premier League as a stronger and more formidable presence, bringing the required strength and composure both in and out of possession to help replace Guimaraes.
Across just 12 Brazilian top-flight matches this year, he has scored seven goals and created five big chances. He has also averaged 5.2 ball recoveries per game, highlighting the energy and athleticism needed to cope with the intensity of the Premier League.
Bamba is an exciting prospect, but he is still young, and there is a reason Monaco handed him only ten Ligue 1 starts last season.
Newcastle have a clear focus this summer on strengthening the squad with up-and-coming quality, but they also need to sprinkle in some experience, and Danilo would be a first-class addition in that regard—a combative midfielder with a keen attacking edge.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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