Newcastle ‘offered’ Barcelona ‘unusable’ in swap deal to sell ‘obsession’ but Howe prefers team-mate

Newcastle United have reportedly been ‘offered’ a cash-plus-player swap deal by La Liga giants FC Barcelona for Bruno Guimaraes.

Newcastle have invested heavily in the transfer market since Saudi-backed PIF completed their takeover of the Premier League in 2021 and Guimaraes has been one of their best signings.

The Magpies have invested around £40million to beat their Premier League rivals in the race to land the Brazil international in the 2022 winter transfer window.

Guimarães He scored 17 goals and made 16 assists in his 106 appearances for Newcastle and established himself as a firm favourite with the St James’ Park fans.

Will Guimaraes leave Newcastle United?

Despite this, Guimaraes has been heavily linked with a move elsewhere this summer as Newcastle need to offload one or two players to balance the books as they risk breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

READ: Ranking the eight Chelsea transfers and the rest of the panicked six based on how they take the PSR

Newcastle have already raised around £64m by selling Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson to Brighton and Nottingham Forest respectively, but Guimaraes is still attracting interest from elsewhere.

“I have a contract with Newcastle, I’m very happy, as I said, I know how much they love me, I know everything I’ve done for the club. In short, I have a contract, I’m happy,” Guimaraes said.

“I don’t know what can happen, we know all about Financial Fair Play, but what I can say is that I’m happy. It’s obviously very nice to be associated with big clubs, it indicates that I’m performing, but it doesn’t worry me, as I said, I’m happy at the club.”

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However, Arsenal, Manchester City and PSG have been mooted as potential destinations for Guimaraes, while a report in Spain claims Barcelona are ‘obsessed’ with the midfielder.

It is worth noting that Newcastle have been in talks with Barcelona over signings with Ferran Torres and Raphinha mentioned as targets.

Newcastle boss Howe is said to be “more convinced” by Raphinha, but Barcelona are looking to offload Torres – who is considered “useless” – in a cash-plus-a-player swap deal for Guimaraes.

The offer is said to be worth around €65m (£55m) plus Torres and it would be expected to be rejected given there was a £100m release clause in Guimaraes’ contract this summer.