Manchester United have experienced a quiet January transfer window so far, with outgoings prioritised ahead of incomings given ongoing negotiations surrounding Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Donny van de Beek.
The Red Devils have needed reinforcements in central midfield since the summer, but Ralf Rangnick appears willing to press on with his current options despite links with Denis Zakaria and Amadou Haidara.
However, recent reports suggest that Newcastle United are on the verge of signing Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon for just £35m. A medical was rumoured to be scheduled before his parent club denied such reports.
The Ligue 1 club released a statement on Wednesday afternoon which declared: "Olympique Lyonnais categorically denies the false information disseminated by many media reporting an agreement between Newcastle and OL for the transfer of Brazilian international midfielder Bruno Guimaraes."
If a deal hasn't yet been struck and the relationship between the two clubs has soured, United should be considering stepping in and taking advantage.
The Brazilian is a very active contributor in France. Still just 24 years-old, he is well-rounded and offers specific qualities when in possession of the ball, and he would help Rangnick install his plans.
So far this season, no player in the French top-flight has completed more progressive passes than Guimaraes' total of 144, and he also places top for through balls and sixth for passes into the penalty box.
He is one of the best in France at finding the valuable areas of the pitch with his vision and execution of incisive passes, as shown below.
In addition to his ability to move the ball forward using his passing, he is also dynamic and willing to drive with possession. He places fifth in Ligue 1 at the moment for progressive carries, and tends to dribble more often than the typical central midfielder.
He's impressive when operating in tight spaces. In fact, no player in Ligue 1 has made more passes while under pressure than the South American this season.
On top of his on-ball perks, Guimaraes ranks seventh in the division for tackles and third for pressures, with those numbers suggesting that he doesn't become a passenger when his team are required to defend.
As a top talent who still has plenty of time to grow and evolve, Guimaraes could be a steal for the Magpies, which is why United should take note of his apparent availability.
Guimaraes is accustomed to playing as part of a midfield two at Lyon - which is typically favoured at Old Trafford - and he would address many of the issues that Rangnick is trying to overcome at present.
Ultimately, Guimaraes is a player who United should be entertaining rather than allowing him to transfer to a club battling against relegation.
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