The euphoric celebrations following Newcastle United’s commanding 3-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven have been shadowed by a growing sense of medical anxiety. While the win effectively guaranteed the Magpies a spot in the Champions League play-offs, it came at a significant cost.
The sight of Bruno Guimaraes limping off the pitch with a concerning ankle injury has sent shockwaves through the fan base and left the coaching staff scrambling for answers.
With the squad already decimated by long-term absences in the defensive line, the potential loss of their Brazilian heartbeat has forced the club’s recruitment team to reconsider their quiet approach to the January transfer window.
Eddie Howe, usually a calm and collected presence, finds himself in a delicate balancing act. On one hand, he is preparing his side for a gargantuan showdown at the Parc des Princes against Paris Saint-Germain.
A victory in the French capital would almost certainly catapult Newcastle directly into the round of 16, avoiding the treacherous play-off route. However, achieving such a feat without Guimaraes and a host of other senior stars feels like a mountain of a task.
The financial stakes are equally high; Howe admitted that moving deep into the knockout stages provides a massive boost to the club’s revenue, which in turn helps navigate the strict Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Yet, for the manager, the focus remains purely on the sporting glory and the hunt for silverware, with the financial windfall being a secondary benefit.
The current injury list at St. James’ Park reads like a nightmare for any tactician. Key defenders such as Fabian Schar, Tino Livramento, Dan Burn, and Emil Krafth are all currently unavailable, leaving the backline incredibly thin.
Adding Guimaraes to that list creates a vacuum in the middle of the park that cannot easily be filled by the current bench. This has led sources close to the club to reveal that Newcastle is now actively eyeing a move for a versatile 20-year-old midfielder who could solve several problems at once. The player in question is Club Brugge’s rising star, Aleksandar Stankovic.
Stankovic, the son of the legendary Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic, has been making a name for himself in Belgium with performances that blend technical intelligence with raw physicality.
While he is primarily a defensive midfielder, his ability to drop back and play as a center-back is exactly the kind of versatility that Eddie Howe craves right now. He isn’t just a short-term patch for the Guimaraes injury; he represents a long-term investment in the squad’s core.
Newcastle’s philosophy has shifted away from panic-buying older players for a quick fix, focusing instead on young talents who can grow with the club’s ambitious project.
The path to signing Stankovic, however, is far from straightforward. The midfielder’s former club, Inter Milan, currently holds a buy-back clause worth roughly £20 million. It is widely expected that the Italian giants will trigger this clause, but not because they want him in their first team.
Instead, Inter sees an opportunity to flip the player for an immediate profit. This creates a bidding war environment where the price tag is expected to climb rapidly.
To give an idea of the market value, Inter has reportedly already turned down a massive £35 million offer from Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month. Newcastle will likely have to match or exceed that figure to convince the Serie A side to do business.
| Player Profile: Aleksandar Stankovic | Details |
| Age | 20 |
| Primary Position | Defensive Midfield |
| Secondary Position | Center-Back |
| Current Club | Club Brugge (Inter Milan buy-back pending) |
| Reported Valuation | £35m – £45m |
| Notable Attribute | High tactical versatility and physical presence |
For the Newcastle board, the decision comes down to a choice between fiscal caution and sporting necessity. If Guimaraes is sidelined for a prolonged period, the risk of the season unraveling becomes very real.
Without a dominant presence to shield the defense and dictate the tempo, the Magpies could struggle to maintain their momentum in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Stankovic offers a unique profile someone who can cover for the injured captain in midfield today and slot into the depleted defense tomorrow.
As the clock ticks toward the end of the January window, the pressure is on Sporting Director Ross Wilson to deliver. The fans are watching closely, hoping that the club will capitalize on the momentum of their European success rather than letting it slip away due to a lack of depth.
Whether it is Stankovic or another versatile target, the message from the dugout is clear: Newcastle needs reinforcements, and they need them before the trip to Paris.
The next few days will define whether this season is remembered for a heroic European run or a story of “what if” hampered by an overflowing treatment room.
