Newcastle United have not had a good year, but they appear to have turned a corner at the start of the Matthias Jaissle era. It won’t be straight-forward, but there is plenty of quality in this team.
However, there has been a discernible eradication of leadership since the likes of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and skipper Bruno Guimaraes left St. James’ Park, with the latter in particular going to be hard to replace, both in quality and influence as the talisman of Eddie Howe’s old team.
A look at Bruno Guimaraes’ Newcastle career
It was a strange sight, watching Guimaraes curl home a beauty for Arsenal against Sunderland in the Premier League. A bittersweet moment.
However, when the Brazil international wheeled away, ears cupped in his trademark celebration, Magpies fans all over will have allowed a wry smile.
His connection to Tyneside remains as deep as ever, and he left after five years to explore the opportunity to win the Premier League and the Champions League with the Gunners.
Guimaraes joined Newcastle from Lyon for £40m in January 2022. He was Howe’s linchpin, instrumental over the years. He’s “one of the best midfielders in the world“, according to journalist Jake Entwistle.
|
Guimaraes’ Premier League Career with Newcastle |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Apps |
Goals + Assists |
|
25/26 |
29 |
9 + 5 |
|
24/25 |
38 |
5 + 6 |
|
23/24 |
37 |
7 + 8 |
|
22/23 |
32 |
4 + 5 |
|
21/22 |
17 |
5 + 1 |
Be it combative defending, relentless intensity when pressing, artful passing or a knack at popping up at the right moment to score a crucial goal, the 28-year-old had it all at Newcastle, and may well be among the club’s greatest-ever midfielders.
Replacing him was never going to be easy, but the Toon gave it a good go this summer, and there’s another young midfielder yet to arrive who could be the best of the bunch.
Newcastle have signed a future Guimaraes upgrade
Guimaraes now plays for Arsenal, and sadly, he will not be returning to Tyneside in black and white, but the powers that be at Newcastle recognise this, and they have already signed an exciting replacement.
Signed for £250,000 from Turkish Süper Lig side Gençlerbirliği, Newcastle have welcomed Ousmane Diabate to the club; though he has remained in Turkey for the current campaign, the Magpies believe they are onto a winner, with the player regarded as ‘the next Yaya Toure’.
The 19-year-old has started six times in the Turkish Super Lig, very much showing that he has something Toure-esque about him. The teenager is precociously talented, athletic and strong and dynamic. He has completed 80% of his dribbles and recovered 6.5 balls per game.
There has been a marked change in age profile at St. James’ Park this season, so Diabate can be confident that he will earn chances to impress over the coming years.
|
Newcastle’s Average Age in the Premier League |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Average Age |
League Rank (youngest) |
|
26/27 |
24.4 |
1st |
|
25/26 |
26.4 |
15th |
|
24/25 |
27.1 |
17th |
|
23/24 |
26.9 |
18th |
|
22/23 |
27.0 |
16th |
|
21/22 |
27.4 |
16th |
Diabate said he “will give everything” on Tyneside, prepared to fight for his place and then fight for a place in the club’s Hall of Fame. The Guinean prospect is hardly the finished product, but it’s worth remembering that with Newcastle’s shift in strategy, he is in the perfect place to rise to the fore in England, with the natural physicality and athleticism to succeed on that front.
Jaissle’s aggressive brand of football could be perfect for this rising star, but another season in Turkey will do him the world of good. Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba both alighted on Tyneside for a combined fee of £58m this summer, and there are further midfielders besides all vying for purchase at the heart of the field.
Guimaraes isn’t coming back, but in Diabate has what it takes to become the kind of all-action powerhouse that Newcastle need in the engine room.
Jaissle and co will have to play the long game, but this future Guimaraes upgrade could be well worth the wait.
