Manchester City have big things planned for the summer. Next season, Pep Guardiola’s City XI could look drastically different.
Manchester City are heading towards a summer of huge change, specifically change to the playing squad which has rapidly aged and rapidly fallen out of competition with the likes of league leaders Liverpool.
Right now, the Reds sit a staggering 23 points ahead of Man City who are slumped in 5th after defeat at Nottingham Forest last time out, with another tricky Premier League fixture against Brighton at the Etihad coming up.
Then comes the March international break. It comes at a good time for City and for Pep Guardiola, and it could be a chance to take a further look towards the summer transfer window and to what business he might conduct.
It’s widely reported that Man City are planning a major summer overhaul with some of their longer-serving and older players set to be moved on, and likely replaced with much younger names.
One such player who Guardiola fancies for his City rebuild is Newcastle United and Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
Photo by Heuler Andrey/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Heuler Andrey/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
MORE MAN CITY STORIES
Bad news for Man City as £60m Bruno Guimaraes claim ruled out
Recent reports have suggested that Man City could sign Guimaraes for much less than the reported £100million release clause he has at St James’ Park. It’s been claimed that Man City could sign Guimaraes for just £60million; providing Newcastle don’t qualify for the Champions League this season.
But an emerging report from The Sun has played down that suggestion. They simply write ‘that is not the case’ with regards to claims about Guimaraes being able to leave Newcastle for cheaper if the Magpies miss out on the Champions League.
His side face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and if Newcastle win then they’ll earn a spot in the final qualifying round of the Europa Conference League ahead of next season. In the Premier League they currently sit in 6th compared to City in 5th, with both tied on 47 points.
European giant also tracking Man City target Bruno Guimaraes
For many months now, it’s been City who’ve been most closely linked with Guimaraes. But reports earlier in March revealed that Barcelona are also keen on Guimaraes and they could make a move this summer.
Barca are figuring out whether or not Guimaraes is within their financial reach. But it’s understood that the Catalan club believe now is the right time to strike a potential deal for the Brazilian international.
How much he’ll eventually cost seems to be the big question. Although there’s no clause for him to leave for cheaper, in the event of Newcastle missing out on the Champions League, it certainly seems as though Newcastle qualifying would make it a more expensive deal anyway, and vice versa.