BRUNO GUIMARAES has cemented his status as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since joining Newcastle two years ago and he could make a mega move this summer.
With the Magpies missing out on European football next season, the 26-year-old may feel he has to leave St James' Park to take his career to the next level.
But the former Lyon star still has four years to run on his contract so clubs interested him would need to stump up a huge amount of money.
It has been claimed Guimaraes has a £100million release clause that runs out on June 24 so anyone wanting to force Newcastle's hand will need to move quickly.
That valuation is likely to scare off plenty of suitors though and Bet365 are offering just 4/9 on the midfielder still being at Newcastle come to end of the summer transfer window.
But deals can happen quickly in football and with Chelsea spending even higher fees on two arguably inferior players last summer (Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo) it's unwise to rule out someone digging deep for Guimaraes.
Here's a look at who could try and make a swoop for the Newcastle ace.
Manchester City
The champions have a squad that looks in need of a revamp with the same core of players carrying them to titles in the last four seasons.
Kevin De Bruyne has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia while the midfielders they signed last summer, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, haven't really been a success.
Manchester City are the favourites to land Guimaraes this summer, with SkyBet making them odds-on but Bet365 offering odds of 2/1, and have the financial muscle necessary to force Newcastle to sell.
But they may need to sell some players first and that could be a problem with the release clause set to be deactivated in the coming week.
Arsenal
The Gunners came so close to winning the league last season and will be looking to boost their squad further to snatch the crown from Manchester City.
Arsenal aren't afraid to spend big on proven Premier League performers and the £100m they paid West Ham last summer for Declan Rice already looks like a good investment.
Guimaraes has the potential to be just as big a success and Mikel Arteta would have formidable midfield if he can play the Brazilian alongside Rice and Martin Odegaard.
But the bookies reckon it's unlikely with Bet365 pricing the Gunners at 9/1 to land him in this transfer window.
Paris St-Germain
The French giants aren't afraid to spend big on statement signings and still hold the record for the two biggest transfers ever, having spent £198 on Neymar and £163 on Kylian Mbappe.
The signing strategy seems to have changed in recent years with club chiefs wisely trying to build a balanced team instead of just snapping up the biggest names in football.
But they will always be in the market for the best players available and Guimaraes would add quality to a midfield that came up short in the Champions League.
PSG are 16/1 with Bet365 to snap up the Magpies star this summer.
Real Madrid
The European champions will take some stopping next season after adding Mbappe to a forward line that already includes Vinicius Junior.
Real Madrid already have a formidable midfield but there's a big hole to fill following the retirement of Toni Kroos.
Guimaraes would be a decent replacement and the Bernabeu giants have the financial muscle needed to pull off a deal, with Mbappe not costing them a fee after running down his contract at PSG.
The Spanish giants are 25/1 at Bet365 to seal a swoop for Guimaraes in this window.
I'm a sports journalist, football tipster and author from Dundee, who is now working in Glasgow. I've covered games at every level, from Junior football to internationals, and still love football even though it has clearly sold its soul. I've been in football tipping since 2018 with the MFT site.
