Bruno Guimaraes has made a stunning start to life at Newcastle United and the form is said to have caught the attention of La Liga giants Real Madrid. Spanish media outlet AS claims that Brazil international will be listed as a substitute if United reaches an agreement with Casemiro.

Reports suggest Newcastle will demand in excess of double Lyon’s salary to sign the midfielder in January. Guimaraes has scored five goals in 19 black-and-white appearances so far and is expected to play for his country at this winter’s World Cup.

The 24-year-old joined the Magpies from Lyon in January for around £40m and has since made 19 appearances, scoring five goals. However, defending Champions League champions Real Madrid have identified Guimaraes as a priority transfer should Casemiro leave the club, according to Dario AS.

Since Guimaraes’s mid-season arrival, Newcastle fans have been speculating about whether he will join former Lyon team-mate Lucas Paquetta at St James’s Park. The pair are good friends, having played together for Brazil, and the attacking midfielder visited Manchester United fans’ favorite Tyneside ground earlier this year.

Paquetta was reportedly sold for £33m in the final weeks of the transfer window and 90min claim the 24-year-old is “open-minded” about the prospect of a move to Newcastle. The Magpies are said to have cooled their interest in James Maddison after being rejected twice by Leicester City.