Eddie Howe has vowed that Newcastle United will 'endeavour' to find another Bruno Guimaraes in January after the Brazil international proved a 'transformational' signing.
Europe's elite clubs did not necessarily expect that Bruno would leave Lyon mid-season or, indeed, that the Ligue 1 giants would sell but Newcastle stole a march by signing the midfielder late in the window. The rest, of course, is history.
Bruno has played a crucial role in Newcastle's turnaround in 2022 after joining a side who were fighting relegation at the time. Newcastle have since lost just four games that the influential playmaker has started in.
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Quality signings like Bruno were desperately needed 12 months ago and, as much as there is an argument for Newcastle to reinforce from a position of strength now, the Magpies are in a very different situation - in so many ways. As well as flying in third place in the table, in Howe's own words, there is not quite the same 'gap' to attack when it comes to Financial Fair Play regulations because of a £210m spend in the last year.
Howe, as a result, is 'unsure' just how January will pan out but it is clear Bruno is the sort of profile of player the Newcastle boss is targeting in 2023 - whether it is next month or the summer.
"We would love another transfer like that because I thought it was transformational for the team and for the group," he told reporters when asked if he foresaw a talent like Bruno being available next month. "They are difficult players to find, but that's our job to try and find them and we will endeavour to do that."
Bruno has not only made a huge difference on the field; the 25-year-old has also been a huge player off it, too, at Newcastle with his winner's mentality. Whereas some targets were put off by Newcastle's perilous situation a year ago, Bruno did not ask for any escape clauses in his contract because his immediate focus was on getting the Magpies out of trouble.
Even when Bruno was eased in, at first, the midfielder did not sulk and instead worked even harder in training and supported his team-mates. That is exactly the sort of team-first individual Howe wants moving forward.
There lies the delicate balance going into January. Howe is wary of the group growing 'stale' but, also, is desperate not to disrupt a tight-knit dressing room. Finding the right player, therefore, is crucial but will that be possible in January?
"I'm always watching players with the view to signing them," Howe said. "I'd like to think I'm an honest guy, but I don't know.
"We're in that slightly difficult position where, to improve our team, as in our starting XI, it's very difficult without spending vast amounts of money, which we don't have. Improving the squad is maybe a different thing, but do we want to improve the squad or do we want to improve the team? There are lots of different things.
"What is the financial availability to us? That is slightly grey because of Financial Fair Play. Then you have injuries to add to it so if we get injuries, that might change things again. I'm being vague, but I'm only speaking the truth."
Injuries, of course, slightly changed the type of attacker Newcastle went for in the final days of the summer window. Newcastle had previously been in talks to sign Joao Pedro from Watford and ChronicleLive was told that, at one point, discussions were 'moving well'. However, crucially, the deal was 'not closed' and, following Callum Wilson's hamstring injury, Newcastle resurrected a club-record move for Alexander Isak, who joined from Real Sociedad.
Whatever happens in the January transfer window, Newcastle will at least be boosted by the return of Isak in the New Year after a thigh issue limited the striker to just three appearances so far.
"He scored at home and scored at Liverpool, where he performed brilliantly," Howe added. "There is a very good feeling around him. There is just a frustration from a supporter’s side that they haven’t seen more of him because I think they know he’s an outstanding talent."
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