Man City told they can sign Pep's number one target for bargain fee this summer as 'verbal pact' revealed

Pep Guardiola may be very interested in a recent line from journalist Ben Jacobs regarding Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes, who’s been a target for Man City all season.

Going into the January transfer window, numerous reports stated that Newcastle United and Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, who’s even been linked with Barcelona of late.

City have seemingly retained their interest beyond January and ahead of the summer transfer window which promises a lot of change to the playing squad at the Etihad Stadium.

Midfield in particular looks like it’ll see a lot of coming and going, with Guimaraes potentially one to come in and help replace the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and maybe even Jack Grealish who could all move on.

Guimaraes has a £100million release clause at Newcastle which makes him an expensive signing for anyone who wants to bring him in. But the 27-year-old has held private talks with Guardiola this season; what exactly was said remains to be seen, but the City boss may well have been laying the groundwork for a 2025 transfer.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Man City target Bruno Guimaraes could leave Newcastle United in cut price deal

Speaking on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness, journalist Ben Jacobs has been discussing the situation regarding Guimaraes at St James’ Park, and his future at the club. And what he’s said could be of great interest to Guardiola who could sign Guimaraes for much less than the £100million he may have expected to have to pay.

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Jacobs said: “Andrea Berta [incoming Arsenal sporting director] will put forward Bruno Guimaraes, who has been on Arsenal’s radar before and again, Newcastle are not going to sell [Alexander] Isak and Guimaraes so there’s a couple of aspects here that make it complicated.

“But the difference between Isak and Guimaraes is that Bruno Guimaraes has a verbal pact with Newcastle United that will allow him to leave for significantly south of the £100million release clause that was active last summer.”

Jacobs went on to add: “And in the winter window, the number was in the region of £80million. This summer, Bruno Guimaraes could be available for £60 to £70million to a Champions League club if Newcastle themselves also don’t get Champions League football. And that is a verbal pact.”

What Bruno Guimaraes said about his talk with Pep Guardiola

Soon after it was revealed that Guimaraes and Guardiola had had a chat in private, the Newcastle man was quizzed on what was said between them.

Guimaraes said of his chat with Guardiola earlier this season: “I know that [Pep] Guardiola likes my football, it is normal to have great coaches who admire your football. We have spoken once after the interview, I praised his work, he praised my work, but it was nothing more than that.”

For City, it seems like a deal for Guimaraes hinges on Newcastle not qualifying for the Champions League, and Man City qualifying themselves; it’d be a much cheaper deal for a player whose form has been questioned this season.

Right now, Man City sit in 5th place of the Premier League table, level on points with Newcastle United in 6th. Chelsea are in 4th and two points ahead. Meanwhile, there’s just three points between City in 5th and Bournemouth down in 9th.

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