Lyon have “categorically denied” reaching an agreement with Newcastle United for midfielder Bruno Guimaraes after widespread reports the Brazilian international was set to undergo a medical.
While it was claimed an offer in the region of £30 million had been accepted, Lyon released a statement on Wednesday criticising “false information disseminated by many media [outlets]”.
“In this transfer window period where the slightest rumour is often presented as reality, Lyon reminds that only information officially released by the club should be taken into consideration,” the club said.
Newcastle are hoping to make Guimaraes their third acquisition of the January transfer window following the signings of Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid and Chris Wood from Burnley.
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However, they appear to have been rebuffed by a Jean-Michel Aulas specialty, Lyon’s colourful owner who is not inclined to let the Ligue 1 outfit’s assets go without a fight.
Note that Lyon also denied they were selling Ferland Mendy to Real Madrid in 2019 (he moved to the Bernabeu eight days later). The same summer, Aulas said in a radio interview that “nothing was done” regarding Tanguy Ndombele’s switch to Tottenham, which was completed less than a week later.
There are cases when Lyon have held firm, though, such as in Liverpool’s failed pursuit of Nabil Fekir. Once again, their statement “categorically denied” a deal and on that occasion they kept hold of the World Cup winner.
So it is unclear whether this will be the end of Newcastle’s pursuit of Guimaraes – who has also been linked with Arsenal – but it represents another potentially embarrassing setback for the new board. Before Eddie Howe was appointed, they had set eyes on Unai Emery, only for him to publicly commit his future to Villarreal.
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Guimaraes, who has registered three assists for Lyon this season, is currently in Ecuador preparing for Brazil’s World Cup qualifier on Thursday.
The 24-year-old has been targeted to improve the Magpies’ midfield options, with Matty Longstaff and Jeff Hendrick understood to be up for sale.
Isaac Hayden is currently sidelined with an injury and recently spoke out on The Beautiful Game Podcast, insisting players who were contracted to the club could not just be ousted to make room for new arrivals.
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Howe does have existing options in Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Jonjo Shelvey. Yet there has been renewed scrutiny on the depth of his squad following injuries to Joelinton, Callum Wilson, Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie, Federico Fernandez and Paul Dummett. With Newcastle looking increasingly stretched, additions would be welcome.
That has proven easier said than done, with rival clubs keen to capitalise on their nouveau riche status. Manchester United are one such side, holding out for a higher fee for Jesse Lingard. If Newcastle were hoping their extraordinary financial backing from Saudi Arabia’s Pubic Investment Fund (PiF) would be overlooked, they have possibly not helped themselves by flying the first team out to the Gulf state over the winter break.
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