"I've heard people on the inside": Craig Hope drops big NUFC claim that'll excite fans - opinion

Newcastle United appear to be closing in on the signing of Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimaraes amid a transfer update from Craig Hope.

Speaking on the True Faith podcast on Wednesday evening, the journalist said: “As of 8pm, the latest was that Newcastle have an offer in for Bruno Guimaraes at Lyon. There were reports earlier in France that the offer was €40m, but I was told straight away that offer was a little on the high side. It’s more around the £30m mark that the offer is in for.

“I think there were some within Newcastle that thought the offer had been accepted, my understanding is that they are still waiting for a definitive answer from Lyon. They’re hopeful that an answer will come tonight, a medical is provisionally booked in for later in the week in South America.

“Of the three big money buys they have been chasing, Sven Botman, Diego Carlos and now Bruno Guimaraes, this is the one out of all of them that I’ve heard people on the inside speak with the most confidence about in terms of getting it done.”

After weeks of being linked to a whole host of players, the Magpies appear to finally be getting things done as the January transfer window draws nearer to its close.

With deadline day next week, Eddie Howe’s side are in some desperate need of further reinforcements before the window shuts, and having clinched the signings of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood, look set to add Guimaraes to their ranks too.

The midfielder has also been linked with a move to fellow Premier League side Arsenal, so for the Magpies to have gazumped them and land one of Ligue 1’s most dynamic midfielders is a real cause for celebration for the Toon Army.

In fact, writing on Twitter, The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder delivered his verdict, saying: