EXCLUSIVE: Barcelona to fund Bruno Guimaraes deal with Robert Lewandowski sale

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 15 Dec 2023 07:30 GMT
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Barcelona may sell Robert Lewandowski to sign Bruno Guimaraes in the summer, FootballTransfers is told.

The Newcastle midfielder - who is furious with the club’s exit from the Champions League, sources have informed us - signed a five-year contract extension in October. As revealed, his release clause is a fixed £100million and it is accessible to any club, including those in the Premier League.

The Brazil international’s ambition is playing in the Champions League and if Newcastle miss out on the competition this season, it’s thought that he could be open to offers from Spain in the summer, as much as he loves playing for Magpies and under Eddie Howe.

Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain had both put proposals in during the last transfer window for Guimaraes, but the player was unwilling to move and his current side swiftly informed the buyers that they were not prepared to make a sale.

When the season ends, Guimaraes will ultimately make the decision that’s right for him - he would love to play for Barcelona one day, but they are poor at the moment and face a mass exodus in 2024. It could be that it’s not the right time for the former Lyon star.

How can Barcelona afford Bruno Guimaraes?

Barcelona cannot afford the purchase of Guimaraes right not given their financial plight, though they are targeting a holding midfielder to come into the side. At the moment the Catalans have Oriol Romeu, but his form has been questionable and they already are considering sending him back to Girona.

The Spaniard had only returned to Barcelona in the summer but has already fallen out of favor with Xavi and hasn’t played a single minute in the team’s last three games.

Lewandowski is Barcelona’s highest earner and the side feels that a sale of the Bayern Munich striker will enable them to sign other targets, with the No.6 position a priority. The veteran has interest from the Saudi Pro League and it’s thought that a deal there is the most likely in the summer.

Furthermore, we understand that yesterday after Barcelona's game with Antwerp, sporting director Deco had a meeting with Arthur Vermeeren and his representatives.