Newcastle United are reportedly prepared to break their transfer record to pair Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta with Bruno Guimaraes next season.
The 24-year-old Lyon star has emerged as a major target of Toon boss Eddie Howe this summer. However, he will cost new owners PIF around £50million, which will comfortably better the £43m they splashed out on Guimaraes last summer.
Guimaraes could also be key to the deal, given that the duo are known to be good friends. The pair also formed an excellent partnership in Lyon’s midfield last season and could resurrect that on Tyneside.
Newcastle are 80% owned by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund and are expected to spend big this summer, having already splashed the cash in January.
Howe is keen to build a squad capable of eventually challenging for a top-six spot. And adding more quality with the likes of Paqueta will certainly help.
The Lyon man scored 11 goals and added seven assists in 44 games in all competitions for the club this season.
However, with his current contract still running until 2025, it means Newcastle will have to splash the cash to get their man.
Despite his relatively young age, Paqueta has already won 31 caps for Brazil, scoring seven times.
Paqueta a nice foil to Guimaraes
If Lyon do decide to sell they could make almost triple what they paid for the midfielder. The French giants coughed up £18m to land Paqueta from AC Milan in 2020.
Paqueta is more of a forward-thinking player than his compatriot Guimaraes and has been likened to Brazil legend Kaka in the past.
Adding him to the mix alongside Guimaraes, Allan Saint-Maximin and a fully fit Callum Wilson would give Howe a potent attacking threat.
However, the Magpies chief still knows he needs to bolster his defence. To that end, he is expected to spend a decent chunk of his transfer funds on at least one new centre-back.
