Newcastle United haven't been afraid to spend big during the January transfer window, and Eddie Howe's side have reaped the benefits
Eddie Howe during a Newcastle United training session
Eddie Howe was backed heavily in his first Newcastle United transfer window(Image: Getty Images)
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Not every Premier League club likes to spend money in the January transfer window, but Newcastle United felt the need more than most in 2022. It was their first opportunity to dip into the transfer market after being taken over in the autumn, and there was a relegation battle to be fought.
The lowly league position complicated things, of course. New manager Eddie Howe had delivered a first league win of the season, but the team was still in the bottom three when the window opened.
Newcastle needed to sign players willing to commit to a project, while recognising they were joining a club with a fight on its hands in the short term. Dan Burn might not have needed much convincing to return to the north east, while Kieran Tripper and Chris Wood were experienced pros ready for a new challenge, but the coup de grace came with the capture of Bruno Guimaraes.
The Brazilian had been at Lyon for just two years but had already made a big impression across Europe. Newcastle weren't the only Premier League club linked with a swoop, but they were the ones who won the race, with Guimaraes' compatriot and fellow midfielder Lucas Paqueta also moving to the Premier League a few short months later.
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Guimaraes, who cost Newcastle up to £40million, was their record January signing at the time and has more than shown his worth in the years since. The 28-year-old now captains the side and signed a contract extension in 2023 with a clause emphasising just how valuable he now is.
In April 2024, manager Howe confirmed that only a bid of £100m would enable a rival club to speak to the skipper. However, that deal expired in the summer of the same year.
Bruno Guimaraes celebrating during Newcastle vs Leeds
Bruno Guimaraes has been one of Newcastle's most important players since signing from Lyon(Image: Getty Images)
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“I’m aware of his contractual status, but it’s not something I focus on," Howe said at the time. "Having that was well planned and structured by the club, in a sense that there is a finish point.
"We don’t want the constant speculation, I don’t think that’s healthy for the player or for us. When it’s something you don’t necessarily have control over, I don’t tend to worry about (the speculation linking him with moves). It goes without saying what my thoughts on the Bruno situation are.
“We want to keep him, we want to build our team around him and he’s an integral part of what we are doing. His form has been very good. He seems very happy and settled. He will be thinking about a busy summer ahead and where we can hopefully take the team. He is a big part of that. We are not in control of that, so we shall see.”
Howe got his wish with Newcastle's captain staying put and helping the team return to the Champions League with a fifth-place finish last term. If there are any last-minute additions on deadline day this year, it would take a lot for them to have the same sort of impact.
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