Arsenal And Manchester City Initiate Contact With Premier League Midfielder
Arsenal and Manchester City have reportedly intensified their pursuit of a top midfield target for the summer transfer window. Since joining Newcastle United from Lyon midway through the 2021-22 season, Bruno Guimaraes has excelled, showcasing his defensive and offensive abilities.
Guimaraes played a crucial role in Newcastle’s push for Champions League football last season and has continued his impressive form with six goals and eight assists in 49 matches this campaign.
However, Newcastle’s Champions League hopes were dashed early, and a recent 3-2 Premier League loss to Manchester United puts their European qualification in jeopardy. Currently seventh in the standings, the Magpies are three points behind Chelsea and only lead Manchester United—who can secure a Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup—on goal difference.
Arsenal and Manchester City ‘informed of Guimaraes’s asking price’
Guimaraes was reportedly furious with Newcastle’s failure to progress to the Champions League knockout stages and has been expected to move to a title-challenging team for several months.
Barcelona had been heavily linked with the midfielder, but Newcastle are protected by a £100m release clause active from May until the end of June, pricing the cash-strapped Spanish club out of a move.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs via CaughtOffside, both Arsenal and Man City have contacted Guimaraes’s representatives. If either club triggers the £100m release clause, Newcastle would be powerless to prevent his departure.
However, if the clause is not triggered before it expires, Newcastle might consider bids closer to £80m if Guimaraes expresses a desire to join a Champions League club. Jacobs notes that Man City’s interest is currently the strongest, as Arsenal are unwilling to meet the £100m release clause. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain have cooled their interest to focus on signing Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva.
Which midfielders could leave Man City and Arsenal this summer?
Despite reports of Guimaraes’s frustration over Newcastle’s Champions League exit, he is still thought to be happy at St James’ Park. Both Arsenal and Manchester City may need to sell players before they can make a move for him.
Arsenal recently extended Jorginho’s contract, but Mohamed Elneny is expected to leave when his contract expires in June, and Thomas Partey has just over a year left on his deal. Given Partey’s injury issues, Arsenal might consider offers for the Ghanaian. Additionally, homegrown players Emile Smith Rowe and Charlie Patino are also rumored to be on the chopping block.
At Manchester City, Kalvin Phillips’s time at the club appears to be coming to an end. The England international has struggled to regain the form he showed at Leeds United and endured a poor loan spell at West Ham United, jeopardizing his chances of playing for England at Euro 2024.
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