Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes this summer.
After being signed from Lyon for an initial €42.1m (£36.4m) fee in January 2022, Guimaraes has established himself as an integral player in Eddie Howe's side and as a fan favourite.
Guimaraes registered five goals and five assists in 40 competitive appearances in the 2022-23 season, helping Newcastle qualify for the Champions League and reach the EFL Cup final.
Having played a key role in a Newcastle side that finished in fourth position, he is attracting interest from overseas.
According to The Times, Barcelona are preparing to test Newcastle's resolve by making a summer bid for the Brazil international.
© Reuters
Barcelona believe that a bid in the region of €100m (£87m) could persuade Newcastle to part ways with one of their most prized assets.
The Catalan giants were recently crowned La Liga champions for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign, representing a successful return for Xavi's first full season as Barcelona boss.
While they have achieved domestic success, Barcelona have been eliminated in the Champions League group stage for two seasons in a row.
As a result, they are now looking to build a side that can compete for the most lucrative prize in European football, and Guimaraes appears to feature in those plans.
© Reuters
Barcelona may not be able to meet Newcastle's valuation due to La Liga's strict financial sustainability rules, but they may encourage Guimares to reject approaches from other clubs with the promise to bring him to Spain next summer.
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have both been linked with a move for the Brazilian, who has made 10 appearances for his national side.
Guimaraes is under contract until the summer of 2026, but the Magpies are reportedly looking to offer him an improved deal.
However, Newcastle may be tempted to accept a club-record transfer fee that would help them stay within Financial Fair Play rules when conducting their summer transfer business.
