Premier League title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City are set for another battle off the pitch as the clubs compete to sign Bruno Guimaraes this summer.
The Newcastle midfielder is a top target for both clubs in the summer as each look to strengthen their engine room with a marquee recruit.
Guimaraes has been a driving force in Newcastle’s improvement since the club’s Saudi-backed takeover and would cost around £100m, the reported figure of his release clause at St James’ Park.
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Newcastle are desperate to hold onto the Brazil international, though the 26-year-old’s release clause means his exit is possible. Paris Saint-Germain are also keen, though the Telegraph claim it’s Arsenal and Manchester City pushing for a deal in a repeat of last summer’s battle to sign Declan Rice from West Ham.
Arsenal view Guimaraes as the perfect complement to Rice in midfield, with Thomas Partey having struggled with fitness issues this season.
The experiment to use Kai Havertz in midfield failed to work as planned with the German redeployed effectively further forward, while Jorginho is yet to agree an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of the campaign.
Manchester City also want to reinforce their midfield. Bernardo Silva could depart in the summer when a £50m release clause becomes active, having expressed a desire for a new challenge in recent transfer windows.
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The Portugal international is understood to want to move closer to his home ties, amid interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Kalvin Phillips is also set to leave on a permanent basis, after spending the second half of the campaign on loan at West Ham.
