Newcastle United are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Brazilian international midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from French outfit Lyon.
The 24-year-old has made a total of 25 appearances for the Lyon this season getting six assists, playing a key role in Lyon Europa League campaign, helping them to top their group.
The Brazilian is hot property in the current market as, according to The Express, Guimaraes is also wanted by Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint Germain.
Newcastle have a verbal agreement in place to acquire Guimaraes' signature – and a medical is scheduled for tomorrow – but some smaller details of the deal need to be ironed out before anything becomes official.
With the deal close to completion, what could Newcastle fans expect from Bruno Guimaraes?
Brilliant passing range
Guimaraes boasts one of the best passing ranges in the French division right now.
He boasts two trademark passes, one is an incisive through ball between centre-back and left-back to an on-running striker.
This type of ball could prove very useful to Newcastle United. With Allan Saint-Maximin's pace and ability to make smart runs in the final third, he could be the perfect candidate to latch onto these through balls and could create a big problem for opposition defences.
The second is an outside of the boot pass wide to an advancing fullback. this could help utilise new signing Kieran Trippier. Trippier looks to get forward at every opportunity and possesses a great crossing ability so being able to find him in space would provide a great threat to the opposition team.
Guimaraes would be able to add an extra element to The Toon's midfield and be able to unlock their attack and help them to score more goals.
Defensive solidity
Guimaraes not only possesses incredible passing range. But his ability to stop attacks and break up play is a key part of his game and a job he does well for his current team Lyon.
Normally partnered with a more attack-minded midfield partner in Wellington, it is Guimaraes' responsibility to help the defence out.
His main defensive role is to help block passing lanes and he has a great instinct for being in the right place at the right time to break up play.
Guimaraes has an impressive defensive output of 1.3 interceptions and 1.8 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, which highlights his hard work in turning over play and winning it back for his team.
Guimaraes also averages 1.7 tackles per 90 minutes so he is not afraid to get stuck in.
Guimaraes is also quite a physical player. Standing at 1.82m tall, he is a large presence on the pitch and would not shy away from the physicality of the Premier League.
Something Eddie Howe will demand from his players. Physicality.
So what does this mean for Newcastle?
Newcastle United's midfield has been struggling so far this season.
Summer signing Joe Willock has not been able to find his form from his loan spell last season. Issac Hayden remains sidelined after surgery. Sean Longstaff has struggled for form and has been in and out of the team since Rafa Benitez left.
It shows that there is a problem in midfield when Joelinton, who has been moved from striker into the midfield by new manager Eddie Howe, has been The Magpies best midfielder this season.
So while Bruno Guimaraes looks to be an expensive addition – a fee in the region of £30 million according to Sky Sports – he is a signing that would potentially solve a big problem in the current Newcastle United team.