Newcastle United Offer FC Barcelona Guimaraes And Cash For Raphinha

Newcastle United have offered their star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes plus €30 million ($33 million) to FC Barcelona for their winger Raphinha according to transfer market expert Gerard Romero.

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League giants are often referred to as “the richest club in the world” following their November 2021 takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The PIF bought the Magpies for £305 million ($390 million) and have quickly overseen the perennial underachievers qualifying for the Champions League and finishing runners-up in the Carabao Cup in their first full season in charge.

Guimaraes is a fan favorite who was one of the PIF’s first big signings made in the January 2022 transfer window.

He cost a bargain fee of around £40 million ($51.2 million) from Lyon, and has swiftly become a regular Brazil international while pivotal in the Toon’s reversal of fortunes.

Before the 2022/2023 campaign drew to a close, however, Newcastle were strongly linked to Raphinha by the likes of Mundo Deportivo.

At the turn of May, Romero’s Jijantes FC reported that Newcastle told the Blaugrana they would offer €80 million ($88 million) for the winger who cost £50 million ($64 million) from Leeds United less than 12 months ago.

Now, hurtling towards June 30 by when Barca need to make player sales in order to balance the books and navigate Financial Fair Play limits, Jijantes FC reports that Newcastle have made a part-exchange offer which entails compatriots Guimaraes and Raphinha switching clubs.

Barca first team coach Xavi Hernandez has been vocal about his need to bring in midfielders ahead of next term, with Barca’s apparent interest in Guimaraes reported on before by the English media.

When these reports emerged, SPORT responded by declaring that the 25-year-old is an “unattainable” target for the Catalans because of their financial difficulties.

Guimaraes is rated at €60 million ($66 million) by Transfermarkt, which is the same amount that Barca are struggling to raise for Xavi’s preferred pivot Martin Zubimendi.

Though it seems difficult to believe that Newcastle would offer arguably their best player to make the deal happen, this proposal, if true, is simply too good to turn down for Barca.

Not only would they receive a decent amount of cash for Raphinha, but also one of the world’s best young players in the center of the park in Guimaraes who has not yet reached his peak.