European giants ready to offer £55m star to Newcastle in exchange for ‘top’ player

Raphinha might be offered to Newcastle United by FC Barcelona in a January transfer window in order to sign Bruno Guimaraes.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan giants are looking to recruit a world-class midfielder next year, with Guimaraes one of three candidates.

With the Brazilian signing a new contract with Newcastle, Barcelona just lacks the funds to sign Guimaraes outright, which is where Raphinha comes in.

The winger was signed for £55 million from Leeds United last year and has been linked with Newcastle in recent weeks as Eddie Howe’s team looks to bolster to their attacking ranks in January.

As a result, a swap deal is now possible, with Raphinha returning to the Premier League and Guimaraes joining one of Europe’s top clubs in Barcelona.

Indeed, while a trade makes sense on paper, the likelihood of such a transfer really occurring is nil, with Guimaraes unlikely to leave Newcastle so easily.

Newcastle can’t let Guimaraes leave for Barcelona despite Raphinha proposal

 

In January, St. James Park will require attacking reinforcements, with Newcastle apparently losing players on a weekly basis due to injuries.

And, while Raphinha would be an excellent addition for the Toon, losing Guimaraes, one of Newcastle’s most important players, isn’t worth it.

Nick Pope has praised the midfielder as a “top player,” and he has been key in Newcastle’s meteoric development under Howe in the last 18 months.

And the Magpies can’t let the Brazilian international depart for Barcelona, even if it means obtaining a player like Raphinga in return.