Pep Guardiola has insisted that Manchester City consider Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes as the club looks to recruit in the central midfield roles in 2025.
The Premier League champions are believed to be keen on revamping Guardiola’s Manchester City squad during 2025’s two summer transfer windows, having cut corners to some extent during recent markets.
Despite having lost Julian Alvarez from the goalscoring department, and sanctioned high-profile sales of Sergio Gomez to Real Sociedad, Joao Cancelo to Al-Hilal, and Liam Delap to Ispwich Town in particular, City only brought in two new names of their own.
The belief last summer was that Manchester City would invest heavily in the central roles of Guardiola’s squad, but having turned down a number of potential options, they ultimately faced the opportunity to bring back Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer.
The German midfield returned to the club after a year at FC Barcelona, and became Manchester City’s second arrival after Savinho joined from ESTAC Troyes and the wider City Football Group.
But with a multitude of personnel problems facing Pep Guardiola throughout the ongoing season so far, including the long-term injury sustained by Rodri at the base of his midfield, there is an acceptance that money must be spend in 2025, and that may start in January.
Having penned a long-term agreement until the summer of 2027, Guardiola is likely to be heavily involved in the rebuilding and reviving of his squad, and that has seemingly started with insistence over one name being considered as a midfield transfer target.
That is according to the information of MailSport’s Craig Hope, who reveals that Newcastle United and Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is now on City’s shortlist of midfield transfer targets, with manager Guardiola having ‘insisted’ on his inclusion.
The report points to sources in Manchester, who reveal that the Premier League champions are looking to sign two midfielders – at least one in January – and that City could test Newcastle’s resolve over their club captain, whether that be in the New Year or in the summer market.
However, from the North-East perspective, manager Eddie Howe would reportedly resist any mid-season sales of key players such as Guimaraes, despite there being a growing acceptance that beyond the campaign and due to PSR, one of the club’s big names will need to be sold.
Another fascinating element of the report reveals that when Guimaraes was linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium last summer, sources in Manchester had suggested City midfielder Matheus Nunes could be involved a deal.
Additionally, Newcastle’s sporting director Paul Mitchell is said to have a ‘good relationship’ with Manchester City’s Txiki Begiristain, although Craig Hope states that as of now, there have been no discussions between them over the 27-year-old Brazilian.
This is a developing story. More to follow.