Manchester City ready to offer one of two first-team wonderkids to Newcastle in attempt to unlock Bruno Guimaraes deal

Premier League giants Manchester City could be ready to offer the services of one of two first-team wonderkids to Newcastle United as part of their Bruno Guimaraes chase.

Officials at the Etihad Stadium have already turned down one clear opportunity to sign the 26-year-old earlier this summer, with the player’s £100 million release clause at St James’ Park having now expired.

City view Guimaraes as being the ideal solution to a number of midfield problems and concerns ahead of the new season, with an awareness that the squad does not have sufficient coverage for Rodrigo in defensive midfield, as well as a lack of creativity further forward.

The latter concern is further heightened by an uncertainty over whether Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in particular will remain at the Etihad Stadium beyond next summer, with the Belgian set to see his current contract expire at the end of the 2024/25 season.

And now Manchester City are seeking more creative avenues to bringing the cost down for Bruno Guimaraes this summer, by highlighting two existing first-team talents as potential makeweights for the Brazilian in the coming weeks.

That is according to the information of the Daily Star’s Harry Pratt, who reports that Manchester City are now ready to use either Rico Lewis or Oscar Bobb as ‘bait’ in their pursuit of Newcastle United and Brazil international star Bruno Guimaraes.

It is further reiterated that the north-east club continue to value their central midfielder at £100 million – a fee that Manchester City are outright refusing to pay, with their own valuation set nearer the £80 million mark.

On the subject of Lewis and Bobb, the report also makes clear that Manchester City have firmly established that neither player is available for sale this summer, regarding both the 19-year-old and 21-year-old respectively as integral to the club’s long-term future.

Oscar Bobb has been at the centre of transfer speculation in back-to-back summer transfer windows, and despite his remarkable showings when called upon by Pep Guardiola last season, it still remains to be seen whether he will be part of the first-team squad next season.

Chelsea have been tenuously tipped as a potential suitor for the Norwegian international, following on from their hugely successful deal for Cole Palmer from Manchester City towards the end of the 2024 summer market.

As for Rico Lewis, the belief is that he still has a significant role to play at the Etihad Stadium this season, and the player himself has admitted he feels that City is the best place to be for his own development, indicating his happiness at remaining patient for opportunities.