Newcastle United set to announce deal for 'transformed' player & massive £52m boost

Newcastle United’s season may well be over, but their fate is yet to be decided.

A final day win was enough to see the Magpies claim seventh in the Premier League, but we don’t yet know if it’s enough to see European football return to St James’ Park.

Here’s FIVE key talking points from the win at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Bruno’s magic hat

He saved the best ‘til last.

There’s no suggestion this was his final performance, but if it turns out to be, it was something very, very special.

Bruno Guimaraes scored and created two goals in West London, and took his tally to seven goals and eight assists for the campaign. Statistically this was his best season in black and white.

When he plays well, which is most of the time, Newcastle play well.

He was at the heart of everything good about United, both in attack and in defence.

Isak 25

Only two players scored more goals than Alexander Isak in the Premier League this season, Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland. His 21 was the best of any Newcastle player since Alan Shearer, so too was his 25 in all competitions.

Even when he’s not at his very best - and he was at Brentford - scoring goals comes so easily to him.

Never mind all of the exit talk, Newcastle need to add support around him, as Callum Wilson has proven a less than able deputy when Isak needed him most.

Hall on the rise

Lewis Hall will not have wanted the season to end.

Just as things were winding down in the Premier League, it was starting to hot up for the England youth international.

Many were left wondering what the player was signed for during a campaign in which he so often didn’t even get off the bench. But since West Ham, where he fired the game into life, he’s looked a player transformed.

Look, he isn’t the finished article just yet, the defensive side of his game still needs some tweaking, but offensively, he is outstanding. Hall has added real balance and a forward threat down the left.

His permanent arrival from Chelsea should be officially announced soon.

The key £52m duo Newcastle United can’t do without

We all knew they were a miss, but Sunday showed just how much. A properly fit Joelinton and Nick Pope made a massive difference to the United XI.

Newcastle don’t win without Pope, who made two outstanding stops from Ivan Toney and brought a commanding calm to the backline, while Joelinton’s physicality and energy allowed those around him - particularly Bruno - to shine.

It makes you wonder what Newcastle could have done with both available for much of 2024 - and even if both had played at Old Trafford last week.

Set completed

Newcastle hadn’t managed to finish above Manchester United in the top division since 1977.

They were also the only team Newcastle had never finished above in the Premier League era. All that ended, albeit only on goal difference, on Sunday.

Now all they need is one last favour, of sorts, from the Red Devils - a defeat on Saturday in the FA Cup final. A loss ensures the Magpies make the Conference League.