Shock Man City and Liverpool claim made over Bruno Guimaraes new deal at Newcastle United

Newcastle United have reportedly made Bruno Guimaraes their highest earner after the influential midfielder signed a contract extension last week.

The former Lyon star has enjoyed a highly successful 18-month spell with the Magpies after joining in a reported £40m deal from the Ligue 1 club during the January 2022 transfer window. After helping his new side escape the Premier League relegation zone, Guimaraes played an integral role in leading United back into the Champions League during his first full season on Tyneside.

Speaking after putting pen-to-paper on his new deal, the Brazil international revealed his delight at the progress he has made during his 18-month stay at St James Park.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted. The fans have made me feel at home since my first day here and I feel so loved in my life. I remember in my first interview, I said I wanted to play for this club in the Champions League and now it’s happening. We are doing so well and when I look around the pitch at my team-mates I am so proud of them all.”

Magpies manager, Eddie Howe, added: “He’s such an important player and he’s done so well since he joined the club. He’s been a huge success since he’s been here so I just hope that he can continue in that vein and carry on his success with us.

“He epitomises the recent success we’ve had. He’s put in so many good displays, he’s very consistent and he’s got a great personality off the pitch as well. He cares very deeply about Newcastle United and the success of the club and he’s got a great relationship with our supporters.”

The two-year extension has committed Guimaraes to the Magpies until the summer of 2028 - although the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool are both said to have shown an interest in the United star in recent months.

Newcastle have warned off that interest for the time being by handing a new deal to their star midfielder - and one report in Brazil has suggested Guimaraes has been made the highest earner in Eddie Howe’s squad as a result.

Although the report does not reveal his exact weekly wage, it does reveal he is now sat alongside Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne as the third highest earner in the Premier League, with only the Belgian star’s City team-mate Erling Haaland and Liverpool star Mo Salah earning a higher weekly wage. The article also states the widely reported release clause placed into the new deal, which is believed to be set at around £100m.