GUARDIOLA APPROACH NEWCASTLE WITH WILD SWAP DEAL THAT’D BE ONE OF THE BEST PIECES OF BUSINESS THIS JANUARY.

January transfer moves are always hard to complete, and so swap deals are a good way of getting targeted players into the building. If City decide they will offload Trafford to Newcastle, they could involve him plus cash to land one of their long-term midfield targets in Bruno Guimaraes.

A couple of years ago, City were heavily linked with the Brazilian midfielder, but Newcastle placed a £100m release clause on him. That clause no longer exists, and according to One Football, City could re-ignite their interest in him this winter, if they want to upgrade in midfield.
Furthermore, Pep Guardiola is an avid fan of Guimaraes, who has an estimated market value of around £70m. Seeing as Trafford is worth around £26m, City would have to add cash into a deal, but it seems a great chance for Guardiola to land one of his long-term targets.
The City boss was quoted in the Shields Gazette, he said: “He [Guimaraes] is an exceptional holding midfielder. He is aggressive, with the ball or without the ball. At set pieces, he’s aggressive, a real, complete holding midfielder. I’m sure he’s part of the project for the next years. Definitely.”
Man City will be looking at midfield in January, as they will consider the fact that Bernardo Silva’s contract at the Etihad is due to expire in June, and there have not yet been reports saying that Man City are planning to extend his contract beyond this season.

Assuming that the Portuguese midfielder leaves as a free agent at the end of the season, City will need to find somebody to replace the creative midfielder with. Guimaraes is a skilled playmaker and could help City maintain their attacking prowess in midfield despite Silva’s departure.

So far during his time at Newcastle since 2022, Guimaraes has made 170 appearances for Eddie Howe’s side, scoring 25 goals and providing 28 assists. Aged just 28, he is in his prime and could be a title-winning signing for City if they were to make a deal happen.