Newcastle United could be forced into entering the transfer market, with a key player potentially heading towards the exit door
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Newcastle United have suffered a bad 10 days, and things could be about to get a lot worse for them if they lose their talisman to one of Europe's elite sides.
The January transfer window doesn't look like it'll offer Magpies fans much respite, either, with a new report revealing one club is looking to match the release clause of a key player to Eddie Howe's side.
Newcastle crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday (Image credit: Getty Images)
According to Football Transfers, Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has a release clause of £100m, with Barcelona reportedly interested in bringing him to Catalonia.
The report suggests that Barcelona are willing to trigger the release clause by selling Robert Lewandowski to Saudi Arabia, with the Pole freeing up considerable space on the wage bill as well.
Though only signed last summer, Lewandowski is now 35 and slowing down somewhat - this term he has so far managed eight goals in 14 appearances, with Barcelona faltering in their La Liga title defence, too.
Guimaraes has a release clause of £100m (Image credit: Getty Images)
Guimaraes has regularly been touted with a move away from St. James' Park over the last year, but a move has never materialised with the Brazilian happy staying on Tyneside.
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With Newcastle's early exit from the Champions League, though, Guimaraes was said to be "furious", and might prefer a move elsewhere in order to match his trophy-winning ambitions.
But with Guimaraes' contract running until the summer of 2028, Newcastle will be in no rush to sell the 26-year-old. Transfermarkt values him at £73m, and the Magpies will certainly want to get as much as they can for him in any potential sale.
Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.
