Man City are aiming to sign a £100m “world class” star

2025 is set as the year in which Manchester City spend big.

On Monday, the Sky Blues confirmed the arrival of Abdukodir Khusanov, who is coming from Lens for a reported £34 millionwhile Vitor Reis from Palmeiras was then introduced on Tuesday, it arrives for £30m.

This is just the beginning, though Omar Marmoush followed by Eintracht Frankfurt, but the biggest coup of the Citizens this year could be yet to come, planning the transfer of the midfielder from Premier League rival.

Manchester City wants to strengthen its midfield

According to the report of Dean Jones for GIVEMESPORTManchester City is ready to “target” a move for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães.

As reported James Ducker of the TelegraphMan City want to re-sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus this month, but that aforementioned Rust and Jones article highlights that the Sky Blues are only interested in a loan deal, as they ‘intend to sign Guimarães in the summer’.

Chris Waugh of Athletic notes that Guimarães’ £100m release clause expired on June 30 last year, but Newcastle are likely to demand a similarly high fee, particularly if Eddie Howeteam can qualify for Champions League.

Since arriving from Olympique Lyonnais for £40m three years agoGuimarães has made 134 appearances for Newcastle, scoring 19 goals and providing 24 assists, a key figure as the Magpies established themselves as the top team.

Former Arsenal winger Adrian Clarke believes the Brazilian is one of the “best all-round midfielders” in the Premier League, while the former Liverpool and Newcastle left-back José Enrique simply describes it as “world class”.

What Bruno Guimarães would bring to Manchester City

Guimarães will certainly be a wanted man this summer, with Newcastle desperate to keep him, but what an addition he would make for Manchester City.

Ever since Rodrigo he tore his ACL against Arsenal in September, midfield was a problem position for Guardiola’s side, with İlkay Gündoğan and Mateo Kovacic doing my best to fill the gap, but they are not at the same level as the ruling party Golden ball winner.

However, Rodri is hopeful return in time for The FIFA Club World Cup in June and July, where Man City will face Al Ain, Wydad Casablanca and Juventus in the group stage, so what kind of partnership could the Spaniard and Brazilian form from next season, so let’s assess how the duo compare.

Since August 2022, the pair have played an incredibly similar number of minutes; should Guimarães play the whole game against Southampton on Saturday, he will play exactly 23 minutes less than Rodrigo in a period of two and a half years.

So comparing the two is very interesting, as the numbers suggest they would make a great pair.

Rodri is a master of passing, he finishes goes through more than anyone else in Europe’s top five leagues last season (3,635), while Guimarães is far more combative, therefore racking up more tackles, interceptions, blocks and cards, although the pair can do both, meaning neither has a pronounced weakness.

So with Rodri dictating the game and Guimarães stuck in, they would form an unstoppable pair.