Manchester City set to sign Newcastle United player for around 100 million

Manchester City are going to do their summer business against a backdrop of tension and uncertainty over their legal battle with the English Premier League. While many are preoccupied with UEFA Euro 2024, City are working behind the scenes to prepare themselves for their fifth Premier League triumph in a row. Pep Guardiola seemed to always find a way to tweak and enhance his squads that smash record after record, and this summer, the Spaniard has been linked with spending nine-figure sums on players or signing some of Europe's best talent. 

Nonetheless, the club's imminent Premier League inquiry on 115 counts of suspected financial infractions casts a pall over any business transactions. Manchester City have been informed that throwing £100 million at Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes prior to the new season would not be a 'nice look' with the club's financial troubles yet to be resolved.

Bruno Guimaraes is unquestionably among the Premier League's best midfielders, and at 26, he is still in his best years. Signing him despite veteran Kevin de Bruyne's contract issue would be characteristic of City being aggressive in the transfer marketplace and closing deals ahead of their competitors.

“These are cases that can turn on fine margins” : Manchester City financial advisor

According to sister website Chronicle Live, the Brazilian playmaker has a release clause for that amount in his contract, which can be exercised by June 24. Guardiola is rumoured to be intrigued, however former City financial advisor Stefan Borson believes such a move would be bad taste given the circumstances.

He told Football Insider that, "I think if you go into a hearing that’s specifically looking at the sort of spending requirements around the game, the last thing that you want is the barristers on the other side to point out that it is run in the backdrop of City triggering a near-record release clause. It’s pretty subtle, but these are cases that can turn on fine margins. So I think that they would probably not want to do that in the middle of the case."