PSG have been one of the biggest spenders in Europe over the seasons. They were actively recruiting players in the summer and now have their eyes on the winter transfer window. Luis Enrique’s squad is still settling and adjusting to his tactics. Kylian Mbappe’s transfer saga has affected their business but the French club has still actively signed big players.
This winter, PSG are looking to boost their midfield and are targeting one of the established midfielders in the English Premier League. Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has been a sensation at Newcastle United and the French club has made him a priority in the winter transfer window. This season, the 26-year-old played against the Ligue 1 leaders in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Bruno played a key role in taking Newcastle United to Europe and here are some of the stats that show why the French club is interested in the Brazilian.
Box-to-box midfielder
Bruno Guimaraes came from Lyon with a reputation for running up and down the field. The Brazilian has been an asset in the midfield and has added a different element to Newcastle United’s gameplay.
The 26-year-old midfielder has averaged a run per 90 minutes. Most of his runs have started in the middle of the park and ended in the final third of the opposition. Bruno is not afraid to take on defenders and has the skills to get past them. His dribble success rate is around 57% in the last two seasons combined.
Brazilian players are known for their skills and Bruno’s ability to take on defenders. This ability to take on players has resulted in numerous free-kicks for the Magpies. Last season, he won 77 fouls in 2,982 minutes spent on the field in the English Premier League. This season, Guimaraes has won 67 fouls in 2,479 minutes spent.
This visual indicates a player’s capability to play forward passes and carry the ball upfield. Those proficient in both are instrumental in moving the ball from defensive to attacking zones, breaking lines and driving the team forward. Bruno is one of the best in the business in moving the ball to the attacking zones. Rather than playing a forward pass, the player likes to carry the ball in the attacking half.
The above viz. compares a player’s dribbling skills (Dribble) with their involvement in moves leading to goals (smgpi). Top right quadrant players can both beat defenders and contribute significantly to goal-scoring moves. This time Bruno is topping the list. He is a core element in the midfield and likes to get involved in goal-scoring opportunities. This high work rate makes him one of the best in the business.
Creativity and finishing
After providing four assists in the 2022-23 season, Bruno added three more in the current campaign. The Brazilian is involved in around 50 passes per 90 minutes and has an 86% accuracy rate. In both seasons combined, Bruno averages around 6.5 passes to the final third and 3.5 passes to the penalty box per 90 minutes. By looking at the above visual we can observe that Bruno Guimaraes has played a few clever passes that have found a teammate in dangerous scoring positions.
Another ability that Bruno Guimaraes possesses is scoring some crucial match-winning goals. A box-to-box midfielder often makes a run into the penalty box and gets on the end of crosses to convert a chance. He scored four goals in the 2022-23 season and has scored one time this season.
Bruno Guimaraes has been the backbone of Newcastle United’s midfield. PSG want him in January but the Magpies cannot afford to lose him. They will aim to keep Bruno until the end of the current season and hope that he stays at the club for many more years.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
