Chelsea are now targeting a midfielder who’s got a worse disciplinary record than Nicolas Jackson

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Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes is a high-profile star that has been linked with Chelsea in recent transfer rumours.

Spanish publication Sport reported last week that Chelsea and Liverpool are the clubs most interested in signing the Newcastle midfielder. In addition, Bruno Guimaraes has a release clause worth around €115m (£99m) and is expected to leave St James’ Park at the end of the season.

Sport have since added this week that Guimaraes wants to exit Newcastle as soon as possible.

We’ll wait and see if Chelsea decide to ramp up interest in the Toon ace, but it’s worth highlighting that this is a player with one potential weakness against his name.

Despite the 26-year-old’s incredible technical quality, his disciplinary record does concern us!

FotMob confirms that Guimaraes has picked up the most yellow cards across the entire Premier League so far this season (9).

In fairness, the Premier League’s website records that Newcastle’s all-action midfielder ranks joint-seventh in the division for most fouls committed (31).

Striker Nicolas Jackson is Chelsea’s card magnet in the league this season with eight bookings, albeit his biggest problem is with dissent towards officials.

Of course, Guimaraes is a combative deep-lying midfielder that’s naturally more likely to be cautioned by the referee. The Newcastle man’s record of 14 yellow cards in 30 appearances across all competitions this season is certainly eye-opening.

Bruno Guimaraes bookings

For clarity, we’re not put off the idea of Chelsea signing Guimaraes in 2024.

Someone could probably have a word with the Brazil international to be a tad cuter with his discipline, but you wouldn’t want to change the attitude of one of the division’s top central midfielders from the last couple of years.

Chelsea’s priority certainly shouldn’t be in the centre of the park, though.

Blues stars Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez need plenty more time to work on their combination as the midfield pivot.