Newcastle selling Bruno Guimaraes should not be “the end of the world” for fans, says Ian Ladyman. It’s all beginning!… as he highlights Aston Villa’s rebuild following the loss of Jack Grealish

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe confirmed last week that a £100million release clause in Guimaraes’ contract expires at the end of June.

Howe is adamant that he wants to keep the midfielder at St James’ Park, but believes a public declaration of the release clause is beneficial to avoid speculation.

The Brazilian is admired by Manchester City, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, and the club are expecting inquiries about him for the end of the season.

Ladyman, football editor of Mail Sport and it all begins! podcast host, believes Newcastle should take inspiration from the example set by Aston Villa and the sale of Jack Grealish.

Eddie Howe confirmed last week that Guimaraes has a £100million release clause in his contract.

Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman believes Newcastle should learn from Aston Villa’s example in case Guimaraes is sold this summer.

Grealish signed for Man City for £100 million in 2021 after leaving his boyhood club, after Aston Villa finished 11th in the Premier League.

Ladyman believes Aston Villa’s efforts to strengthen their squad with funds generated by Grealish have contributed significantly to Unai Emery’s side being on course to secure Champions League football next season .

Aston Villa are fourth in the Premier League and face a two-legged Europa Conference League semi-final.

“When Manchester City’s interest in Jack Grealish surfaced two or three summers ago, many Aston Villa fans saw it as the end of days,” Ladyman said. “I remember writing a column suggesting that if they sold it and invested it well, it could work for them.

“This prompted former Aston Villa defender Shaun Teale to send me a message on Twitter telling me to get back under my rock, which I didn’t greatly appreciate given I didn’t never met.

“But now that I’ve come off my rock and I look at Aston Villa sitting pretty, sitting pretty in fourth place, and no doubt Shaun Teale is very happy with that, it just shows Aston Villa are in a better position now as they were when they sold Jack Grealish.

“Now it’s not because they sold Jack Grealish, it’s because they hired Unai Emery. However, they have a good squad, they have a deeper squad, they have a squad that doesn’t rely more on Jack Grealish, they are in a better position.

“All I’m saying is that for Newcastle and Bruno Guimaraes, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world if he leaves, as long as they invest in him well.

Grealish was sold by Aston Villa to Man City for £100m in 2021 after finishing mid-table

A rebuilt Aston Villa team under Unai Emery is now on the brink of Champions League football.

“Craig Hope, our Newcastle correspondent, spoke about the lack of depth at Newcastle, so if you lose one player and sign three, as long as they’re the right ones, that helps you. It’s called building.

Ladyman admitted the challenge of replacing Guimaraes could be complicated by the departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth, while highlighting Alexander Isak as the Magpies’ other major asset.

Everything starts ! co-host Chris Sutton admitted he was divided over the prospect of Newcastle selling Guimaraes this summer.

Sutton suggested Newcastle would face the challenge of deciding how to spend the money received from a potential sale.

He also warned that a potential sale could cause Newcastle’s other key players to question the club’s ambition.

“They are finishing the season pretty well, but how can they replace him (Guimaraes), a player of his quality,” Sutton said.

“You know, if they get 100 million, how will you spend that? Do you bring in two players for 50 million each? Is there a gem that Newcastle have spotted that other clubs haven’t? That’s the game, but it’s very unlikely.

“If Newcastle want to go to the next level, I think they should probably keep him.

It’s All Kicking Off co-host Chris Sutton is divided on potential sale of Guimaraes

Sutton warned a sale could lead to other stars like Alexander Isak questioning the club’s ambition

“I actually think it’s a very well made point with Aston Villa moving after Grealish. I just said I don’t know if selling Bruno for Newcastle is necessarily the right thing to do, but Aston Villa are good side.

“That’s the key, isn’t it?” Everyone knows how important recruitment is, but if you add Dan Ashworth to the start, will Newcastle be on the right side when it comes to recruitment?

“The other thing is the message it sends to other players, to other talented players within the team (like) Isak, there will be suitors for him. I’m absolutely sure of that.

“That’s the danger. If you sell a big hitter, then the other players in that team might think: well, does the club lack ambition?