Manchester United have been linked with a wealth of talent as they look for a suitable replacement for Casemiro, with Newcastle United skipper Bruno Guimaraes now emerging as the frontrunner
Bruno Guimaraes taps the Newcastle crest
Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United's hopes of signing Bruno Guimaraes or Sandro Tonali from Newcastle this summer could rest on the Magpies securing or missing out on European qualification. The Reds have been linked with a number of names as they look to address issues in the heart of midfield.
And with Casemiro revealing his intentions to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, the club will scramble to find a suitable successor in the coming months. While the likes of Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton have all been brought up in conversation, Newcastle captain Guimaraes is thought to be the club's number one priority.
As per Reuters, United are in 'advanced talks' to sign the 28-year-old in a £69million deal. It is also claimed that both Guimaraes' camp and the Reds favour the move.
However, according to former Manchester United star Danny Simpson, the club could potentially retain their key talents should they manage to see Champions League or Europa League football in 2026/27. Speaking to the MEN via Gambling.com, who rank and compare licensed UK casinos, Simpson said: "I watched Tonali, he's another one I watched that I was so impressed with.
"I think I tweeted how good I thought he was, watching him live at Man Utd last week. Didn't realise how big he was, to be honest, and didn't realise how well he moved with the ball, off the ball powerful.
"I think any of them top clubs are looking at him in that centre. City need one, Man Utd need one. Chelsea obviously can’t buy players.
"I think he's one definitely people are looking at. [Tino] Livramento, again with him, playing left-back, right-back. Yes, okay, he's had injuries this season, so we'll see how he finishes this season.
"The other one for me is Lewis Hall. As well, I think he looks…They got him for £30million, which I think at the time raised a few eyebrows, but the way he's developed and looks like for the next 10 years could be a top, top, top left-back in the Premier League and for England.
“They've got some really good players. I think the other thing is, the other clubs know the financial situation Newcastle are in. Wanting to progress and get more...
"It's going to be an issue. It's going to be tough to hold on to them, but it depends how they finish the season.
"Can they still get European football? If they don't, that's obviously when players will say to Eddie [Howe] and the club, 'I want to play in these big nights that we've just played in, Barcelona, etc.' It'll be very tough, but I think it depends on where they finish in the league this season if they can get European football."
Danny Simpson battles for the ball
Danny Simpson has spoken about Sandro Tonali(Image: Birmingham Post and Mail)
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A top-five Premier League finish remains as Howe's last hope of securing European football next season, considering Newcastle were dumped out of the Champions League 8-3 on aggregate by Barcelona in the last 16 on Wednesday evening.
Given just how tight it is at the top of the table, however, and with just eight games to go, finishing around the sweet spot of the top five will undoubtedly be a tough task. As things stand, the Magpies sit ninth in the Premier League standings, seven points adrift of a fifth-place Liverpool and trailing a fourth-place Aston Villa by nine.
Up next for Newcastle is a bitter Tyne-Wear Derby with Sunderland on Sunday, March 22. Fixtures with Crystal Palace, Fulham and Arsenal make up a portion of their remaining top-flight games.