Newcastle Notebook: PSG Not Pursuing Bruno Guimaraes, Toon Scouting Belgian Defender, and Eddie Howe’s Hand Injury

Paris Saint-Germain do NOT want to sign Bruno Guimaraes this summer.

Notebook was in Paris this week and we have learnt there is surprise among the club’s hierarchy at the frequency and strength of reports linking them with a move for the Newcastle midfielder.

PSG are aware of the £100million release clause in his contract, but sources were emphatic in saying it is not a deal for them.

Indeed, the word in football circles of late is that no club sees value in meeting the clause, and that some of the noise has been generated with a view to creating a market around the player.

Newcastle hope the expiry of the clause on June 30 will put an end to speculation over the Brazilian’s future. However, others believe it could leave the club exposed to lesser offers and potentially unsettle Guimaraes.

The Brazilian midfielder has a release clause in his contract worth £100million which expires on June 30

For all of that, it is Notebook’s expectation that he will be a Newcastle player come next season.

Belgian star on radar

Newcastle look increasingly likely to sign Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham, but we can reveal Belgium defender Zeno Debast is also on their radar.

Recruitment chief Steve Nickson watched the 20-year-old during Belgium’s 2-2 draw with England at Wembley in March, and the home side only equalised late on after Debast was substituted.

The Anderlecht centre-back was very impressive that night and Newcastle like his profile. 

Sources in Belgium say he has an agreement that he can leave this summer, and a fee of around £15-20m has been mooted. West Ham and clubs in Italy are interested.

Debast has six caps for his country and is set to be part of their squad at Euro 2024, while he has already appeared 88 times for his club. 

He can also operate at right-back.

Anderlecht centre-back Zeno Debast, 20, is on the club’s radar and has been scouted by Toon

Newcastle also look increasingly likely to sign Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer

Saudis in Toon

A Saudi delegation were due at Newcastle’s training ground on Friday as plans gather pace on and off the field.

We understand representatives from the Public Investment Fund paid a visit to the club’s Benton headquarters, along with chief executive Darren Eales. British-based co-owners Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben are also in town.

Strategic meetings have taken place in recent days and the top brass will be present when Newcastle entertain Brighton in the final home match of the season on Saturday.

One subject discussed would have been plans to expand St James’ Park or move to a new site, and sources insist all options remain open.

More pressing, for now, is the appointment of a new sporting director, and as Notebook reported last week, Crystal Palace chief Dougie Freedman is the leading candidate. 

However, it may be that any announcement is only made after the Premier League season has finished.

The club’s Saudi and British-based owners have been in town for strategic meetings 

Plans to expand St James’ Park or move to a new site will have been discussed in the catch-up

Olise admired

On the subject of Palace, we should keep a very close eye on developments around Michael Olise in the coming weeks.

Our information is that the release clause in his contract, while complicated and with various stipulations, is not as high as £60million.

Olise, 22, is admired by Newcastle and we expect to see them competing for his signature this summer.

We expect to see Newcastle competing for Michael Olise’s signature this transfer window 

Who Wil take pens?

Who will be on penalty duty should Newcastle get a spot-kick this weekend?

Alexander Isak was in the hunt for the Premier League Golden Boot when, at Burnley last Saturday, Callum Wilson allowed him to take a second-half penalty, but only after an on-field discussion.

Isak missed and then followed up score, taking his season’s tally to 20, but Erling Haaland’s four goals for Manchester City versus Wolves have now put him five ahead of the Swede.

That being the case, we’d expect to see Wilson revert to the role of designated taker in the remaining matches.

And another question asked of me a lot this week – who will start in goal against Brighton? All of my information is pointing towards Martin Dubravka. If that helps any of you guys who play Fantasy Football…

Not so steady Eddie…

One person who won’t be going in goal is Eddie Howe, who has a nasty cut on his hand.

How did he do it? Attempting some DIY at home. He was only made aware of the gash when his son asked what all the blood was.

The Newcastle boss has since hung up his hammer for the campaign, and perhaps for good.

Murphy contract talks

Newcastle are in talks with Alex Murphy over a new contract for the centre-back.

The 19-year-old has made two substitute appearances in the Premier League this season but has been around the squad all year.

And, with his current deal expiring next summer, a renewal is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Murphy signed from Galway in his native Ireland in 2021 and immediately caught the eye in Under-23s matches. Eddie Howe likes the player and it could be that he is allowed to leave on loan come next season. He would have gone out in January if not for the club’s injury problems.

Eddie Howe injured his hand doing DIY at home – but only realised when his son asked what all the blood was about! 

Toon Teaser

It’s Toon Teaser time… Last week’s question (ahead of my trip to Paris) was – can you name the ELEVEN players who have played for Newcastle and PSG? The answers were: David Ginola, Yohan Cabaye, Laurent Robert, Didier Domi, Alain Goma, Sylvain Distin, David Rozenhal, Fabrice Pancrate, Habib Beye, Helder and Gini Wijnaldum.

This week’s puzzler is (and there is a clue above) – FOUR players have taken penalties for Newcastle under Eddie Howe. Name them. And, if you still fancy more on a similar theme, FOUR other players (not in the previous answer) took penalties for Newcastle under Steve Bruce. Note: shootouts not included.

The answers will be revealed on Saturday morning on our new NUFC-dedicated WhatsApp channel. It’s free and is available HERE: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaOdzdEIiRp2LU3h4i2l