BARCELONA want to sign Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes this summer, according to reports.
The Catalan giants believe that the Brazilian ace can help catapult them back into Champions League contention.
Selling Guimaraes would help Newcastle further strengthen their squad within the parameters of Financial Fair Play.
And they would expect to command a club-record fee for a sale should they let him depart.
According to The Times, Barca accept that Guimaraes is likely to cost around £87million to prise away from the Toon.
Newcastle signed Guimaraes from Lyon for a then-club record £43m in January 2022.
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He has since helped Eddie Howe transform his side from relegation strugglers into top four occupiers.
Guimaraes, 25, has three years remaining on his Newcastle contract and it is not a given that he will leave this summer.
But Toon scouts are performing due diligence by assessing potential replacements regardless.
Magpies chiefs hope to entice Guimaraes into staying by offering him an improved new contract.
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Upon sealing qualification for next season’s Champions League, Guimaraes talked up Newcastle’s chances of winning “titles” in the coming years.
He said: “I am ambitious. This is something I have been since I remember: to have ambition and challenge myself.
“When I signed, people say, ‘You are crazy to sign for a team who could play in the Championship next season.’ But here we are and we have Champions League one year after.
“I think the challenge will be bigger than next year. I think the team has to have a goal of Champions League, not to go now and then not for ten years.
“We have to get used to being there. Like in the Carabao Cup final, we have to get used to going there.
“I think this is the ambition – fight for titles. The club deserves titles. Because of that I am here.”
Howe, meanwhile, talked down the possibility of Newcastle splurging on numerous new players after finishing in the top four.
He said: “We don’t have the ability to spend the money people will think we have, so we’re going to have to be very smart.
“It’ll be a small group of players, but ones we think can make a difference.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
