{"id":1353221,"date":"2024-05-29T10:42:25","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T09:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1353221"},"modified":"2024-06-12T13:30:21","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T12:30:21","slug":"manchester-city-bruno-guimaraes-transfer-analysis","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/manchester-city-bruno-guimaraes-transfer-analysis\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruno Guimaraes to Man City? Why Guardiola should act fast to sign Haaland’s \u00a380m admirer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester City<\/a> will need to move quickly if they want to sign Bruno Guimaraes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Newcastle United midfielder is attracting attention from a host of top clubs, with the Citizens reportedly keen on bringing him to the Etihad Stadium. The Brazilian star is believed to have a \u00a3100m release clause in his contract that can be activated from now until the final week of June.<\/p>\n

As the race for Guimaraes\u2019 signature hots up, we consider what he would add to Pep Guardiola\u2019s squad.<\/p>\n

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Fitting the profile<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Manchester City are in need of a deeper-lying midfielder who can progress play, having never truly replaced Ilkay Gundogan following his departure last summer — the German himself, of course, having converted to a more attacking option by the end of his spell at the Etihad.<\/p>\n

West Ham United\u2019s Lucas Paqueta looked to be in the frame for a possible move to M11, but last week\u2019s FA charge for alleged betting breaches is likely to have scuppered that deal. Guimaraes has a similar skill set to the Irons\u2019 maestro, however.<\/p>\n

He is defensively resolute when his side are without the ball, before becoming a creative presence when in possession \u2014 and providing plenty of end product in attacking areas.<\/p>\n

That is reflected in his 15 Premier League goals contributions during 2023\/24, having amassed seven goals and eight assists over 3,268 minutes of action.<\/p>\n

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Ball-winning brilliance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Guimaraes\u2019 defensive attributes are reflected in his statistics from last season.<\/p>\n

Just 10 top-flight players made more tackles than the 26-year-old, while he is particularly adept at regaining the ball high up the pitch.<\/p>\n

A total of 31 regains in the attacking third was the 11th-most in the division, with 121 middle-third regains only beaten by Ryan Christie (122), Christian Norgaard (122) and possible future team-mate Rodri (132).<\/p>\n

And with more duels won than anyone else in the Premier League (286), Guimaraes would certainly bring an additional level of steel to Manchester City\u2019s midfield. Something Guardiola himself has noted in the past.<\/p>\n

“He is an exceptional holding midfielder. He is aggressive, with the ball or without the ball,” the Spaniard said of Guimaraes ahead of Man City’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Newcastle in March. “At set-pieces, he\u2019s aggressive and is a real, complete holding midfielder since being at Lyon and now at a club who want to grow up and up. I am sure he is part of the project for the next years. Definitely.”<\/p>\n

On his interactions with Guardiola, Guimaraes said in March: “Pep said I was \u2018bueno\u2019, good! We have a good relationship, we have already talked a few times. For me, Pep\u2019s a genius, the best coach in history.”<\/p>\n

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Pass master<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Guimaraes\u2019 driving runs have consistently helped Newcastle turn defence into attack during his time on Tyneside.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly for a player in his position, only wide forwards Jeremy Doku (87) and Mohammed Kudus (124) have completed more take-ons than the Rio de Janeiro native\u2019s 72.<\/p>\n

However, it is Guimaraes\u2019 passing skills that make him such a creative threat.<\/p>\n

He is always looking to play the ball into dangerous areas \u2014 attempting (2,264) and completing (1,924) a notably high number of passes into the final third. It is a similar story when it comes to through-balls attempted (26) and completed (12), too, with both those figures putting him inside the Premier League\u2019s top five players.<\/p>\n

That could make him the dream addition for relentless Man City striker Erling Haaland — a player Guimaraes is a massive public admirer of.<\/p>\n

“He’s a monster, he’s an amazing player,” Guimaraes told the Premier League’s YouTube channel of Haaland recently. “If I played with him, I’d finish 20 assists a season.”<\/p>\n

The Magpies will be desperate to keep hold of their midfield lynchpin, but Manchester City should go all out to sign Guimaraes \u2014 even if it means meeting his \u00a3100million release clause.<\/p>\n

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Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n