Chelsea face competition from Real Madrid for midfielder Bruno Guimaraes
According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea will face competition from European champions Real Madrid to sign Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
Guimaraes has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since his £40m arrival from Lyon during the January transfer window.
Not only did he transform the fortunes of Newcastle in the second half of last season, but his performances are also one of the key reasons why the Magpies are fourth in the league table this season.
Although big boys Chelsea and Madrid are in the fray to sign him, the 24-year-old has four years left in his contract at St. James Park. Hence, Saudi owners are under no pressure to let their key asset go just yet.
Moreover, they are ready to sit down with Guimaraes to offer him a new contract with a pay rise, moving his weekly wages up to £200,000.
The Brazilian international is a defensive midfielder by trade but can operate in a double pivot or as a number 10 behind the striker. He has every quality a top-class midfielder whould have.
So, as much as Chelsea could do by adding more depth and quality to their central midfield department, it looks unlikely that they will be able to get Guimaraes.
With the future of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho in doubt as they are in the final few months of their contract at Stamford Bridge, the Blues could lack numbers in that department come next summer.
They are linked with West Ham United’s Declan Rice and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong. Both of these players are of similar profile to Guimaraes. With Barcelona eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage, there could be an opening for the clubs to sign de Jong as the Spanish would try and balance their financial books.
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If that does become the case, Chelsea fans would want the club to do everything to sign the Dutch international either in January or next summer.