"Dream pairing for Newcastle" - Journalist urges PIF move that'd leave fans "licking their lips"

Newcastle United fans will be ‘licking their lips’ if Bruno Guimaraes is reunited with Lucas Paqueta at St James’ Park as they would form a ‘dream pairing’ in midfield, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Eddie Howe, who was appointed as the Magpies’ head coach last November, has steered the Tyneside giants away from the Premier League drop zone and is now setting his sights on strengthening his squad during the summer transfer window.

According to ChronicleLive, Newcastle are set to go head-to-head with Premier League rivals Arsenal in a bid to sign Paqueta from Lyon.

The report suggests Paris Saint-Germain have dropped out of the running for the 31-cap Brazil international, while Lyon have an asking price of £58million and Paqueta is seeking a pay package worth £180,000-per-week.

It is not the first time Newcastle have looked to do business with Lyon since the Saudi Arabia-based Public Investment Fund completed their takeover of the club as they succeeded in luring Guimaraes to St James’ Park after a deal worth £40million was concluded in the final days of the January transfer window.

Paqueta has reportedly refused to commit his long-term future to Lyon and told boss Peter Bosz that he will make a decision on whether to remain with his current employers at the end of the season.

However, the Ligue 1 side are in a strong negotiating position and under no pressure to sell the creative midfielder as his £49,000-per-week contract has more than three years to run.

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O’Rourke believes securing Paqueta’s services would be a coup for Newcastle and it could also lead to a fruitful reunion with Guimaraes, who is valued at £27million by