Man City may allocate half of their transfer budget to a player whom Guardiola loves

This summer, the Citizens have the potential to spend more than £200 million, with half of that amount allocated to a single purchase.

Dean Jones, a transfer expert, has disclosed to GIVEMESPORT that Manchester City continue to harbor profound admiration for Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle United’s midfielder, who is valued at £100 million. Half of the Premier League champions’ transfer budget could be allocated to a pursuit of the Brazilian this summer, with an estimated expenditure of approximately £200 million.

Despite the fact that they are on the brink of facing 115 financial fair play accusations, City appear to be prepared to spend a significant amount of money this summer and fulfill Guardiola’s recommendation of Guimaraes prior to the FA Cup quarter-final match in March.

Newcastle will exercise caution due to the existence of a £100 million release clause in the South American’s contract, which remains in effect until the conclusion of June.

Guardiola emphasized Guimaraes in his pre-match musings prior to their FA Cup quarter-final match, which Man City won 2-0 as a result of Bernardo Silva’s two goals. The City manager praised the 26-year-old for his exceptional performance in his current role, stating:

“He is an exceptional holding midfielder.” He is tenacious regardless of whether he has the ball or not. He has been a genuine, complete holding midfielder since his time at Lyon and is now at a club that is committed to continued growth. He is combative at set pieces. I am confident that he will remain involved in the initiative for the foreseeable future. Without a doubt.”

Newcastle and Eddie Howe would concur with the former Athletico Paranaense player’s performance. Guimaraes concluded the season with seven goals and eight assists in the Premier League.

In comparison to other midfielders in the league, the imperious midfielder is also in the top percentiles for both touches (top 13%) and chances created (26%). Consequently, it is evident that a significant portion of Newcastle’s attack is directed through him.

Guimaraes has previously downplayed the situation, despite the fact that those at St James’ Park may be apprehensive about losing one of their main stars. He replied to Guardiola’s complimentary remarks:

“Occasionally, the individuals who surround me engage in extensive conversations regarding me; however, I remain preoccupied with football.” I am content in this society, where I am striving to achieve my best. I am enamored with the admiration the fans have for me, which is why I concentrate on my football and allow the audience to express their opinions. (…) I have never experienced such a profound sense of affection for the followers as I have here. I strive to perform for the audience, as they have been an incredible support to my family and me. Therefore, I aspire to continue my visits to this location for an extended period.

A superior substitute for Paqueta Guimaraes is a more suitable candidate than the West Ham midfielder

Last summer, Manchester City was heavily associated with West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta, with some sources indicating that he had even agreed to a six-year contract at the Ethiad. However, the agreement was terminated when it was revealed that the playmaker was being investigated for match-fixing. Following the conclusion of the 2023-24 Premier League season, the Brazil international was accused of four instances of alleged spot-fixing in May, which appeared to eliminate any possibility of City repurchasing him.

However, the Premier League champions may have discovered a more suitable candidate in Guimaraes. Guimaraes is a pure central midfielder, while Paqueta is more of an offensive midfielder or can be deployed on the wing. In fact, Guimaraes has more well-rounded statistics than his troubled international counterpart.