Eight-figure price tag given green light at Manchester City for Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes | OneFootball

Manchester City officials have seemingly issued the green light over a price tag they would be willing to pay for one of their key summer transfer targets.

That concerns the club’s position on Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United, who recently saw a release clause in his current St James’ Park contract expire without too much interest from his potential suitors.

It was widely reported that the 26-year-old was available to purchase this summer without any input from his employers at a valuation of £100 million, with Manchester City remaining distant from the fee and instead eyeing a negotiation with their Premier League colleagues.

Despite no such reports covering concrete approaches from the Premier League champions just yet, new information emerging this week indicates that Manchester City officials have identified just how much they would be willing to pay for the player.

That is according to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, who reveals that Newcastle and Brazil’s Bruno Guimaraes remains a target for the Premier League champions in the ongoing summer transfer window.

It is explained that there is a ‘growing feeling’ around some within the Etihad Stadium that a figure of £85 million could still seal an agreement, with the aforementioned sum matching the price deemed appropriate for West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta last summer.

As for Guimaraes’ release clause, which has now expired, it is stated that Manchester City would not go near the figure and were unwilling to activate the clause by offering £100 million.

As for the aforementioned Lucas Paqueta, it was widely believed for several months that Manchester City recruitment bosses would return in their interest for the West Ham star this summer, having moved away from a pursuit during the last equivalent market.

However, it was confirmed earlier this year that the Brazil international had been charged by the Football Association for allegedly getting booked deliberately “for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market”.

An FA statement said, “It’s alleged that he [Lucas Paqueta] directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.”

Manchester City could yet showcase new signings later this month as they head out to the United States for their four-game pre-season tour along the east coast of the country, including contests against FC Barcelona and Chelsea.