PSG make move for €115m Premier League star in ‘TERRIBLE’ blow to Barcelona

Robin Bairner

• 17 Jan 2024 10:40 GMT
• 3 min read

PSG are in talks with Bruno Guimaraes as they hope to make the Newcastle midfielder their star acquisition of the January transfer window.

FootballTransfers has exclusively revealed that Newcastle may allow the 26-year-old to depart the club for less than the €117 million (£100m) release clause on his current deal, with Barcelona and Real Madrid cited as two clubs who could get a cut-price deal for the Brazil international.

The Magpies want to keep the former Lyon player away from any of their Premier League rivals but are mindful that they could be forced into a sale if any of these sides trigger the release fee.

On top of this are lingering Financial Fair Play problems for the club, which have led them to consider the sale of one of their leading assets, either Bruno or Alexander Isak, who Arsenal are known to hold an interest in.

PSG, meanwhile, are eager to add to their midfield options this month and Bruno is seen as a leading candidate to sign on at Parc des Princes, Sport reports.

The Ligue 1 leaders are already in talks with the player’s agent Giuliano Bertolucci over a move for Corinthians’ Gabriel Moscardo, and while that deal is proving to be complicated, there remains the possibility that Bruno Guimaraes, who prefers Barca, could make a move to the French capital.

FootballTransfers understands that PSG will have to meet the release fee in full to broker a deal.

Double trouble for Barcelona

This represents a double blow to Barcelona, who Sport say will find it “almost impossible” to sign Bruno.

Firstly, he is a player that sporting director Deco loves and would dearly have liked to incorporate in his squad. However, the player’s wages, which are estimated at just under €10m per season, are too great for a deal to be considered realistic.

Just as important, though, is that Newcastle had been seen as one of the best destinations to offload Raphinha, who would have departed in a part-exchange deal for Bruno Guimaraes.

This is described as a “terrible” blow due to the Brazilian’s poor form with the Camp Nou side this season.