- 15 hours ago
Bruno Guimaraes set for summer Barcelona move?
Stuart Telford
- Updated: 11 May 2023 10:19 BST
- 4 min read
Barcelona are the latest club to be linked with a move for Newcastle and Brazil star Bruno Guimaraes, but can they get him?
Guimaraes has impressed since joining Newcastle from Lyon for €42.1 million in January 2022, quickly establishing himself as one of the most complete central midfielders in the Premier League.
The Brazilian has averaged three tackles and shot-creating actions per 90 minutes over the last year, making him an asset on both sides of the ball, and is now valued at €50m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm.
READ: Bruno Guimaraes drops big summer transfer hint with 'genius' comment
Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets recently announced that this season would be his last at Campo Nou, meanwhile, and Guimaraes has been tagged as a potential replacement according to reports in Spain.
"Barcelona are in the middle of a rebuilding project having missed the Champions League knock-outs for the last two years," write Diario AS. "Now, their idea is to sign Guimaraes in the summer of 2024, giving them time to sell players to fund an offer close to €100m."
🔎 IN FOCUS@brunoog97 making it look easy yet again! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/N2R7V7jjIe
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 10, 2022
Messi problem
Barca's primary goal this summer is securing the return of club talisman Lionel Messi from Paris Saint-Germain.
READ: Newcastle ward off Chelsea transfer interest in star with new contract
With La Liga also telling Barca to raise €200m if they want to compete next season, the Blaugrana are unlikely to focus on any targets that aren't free transfers, such as Messi, Inigo Martinez, Ilkaz Gundogan and, perhaps, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
It is understood that all but four players - Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele, Gavi and Pedri - are available for transfer, but even if they can raise the funds, it is not a given that Guimaraes will leave Tyneside.
Guimaraes recently celebrated the birth of his son in Newcastle. Carrying him onto the pitch after the Magpies' 3-1 win over Southampton.
"Immense happiness to enter with my son for the first time in our second home," he then posted on Instagram. "Three more points on our walk. Thank you God for allowing me to live my dreams here."
