Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes previously snubbed a move to Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Barcelona have joined Chelsea in the race to sign Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United in the January transfer window, according to reports.
The 24-year-old Brazil international midfielder joined Newcastle in January 2021 from Lyon for £40m after snubbing Arsenal and has massively impressed – with Graham Potter now attempting to lure him to Stamford Bridge.
Guimaraes has registered seven goals and three assists across his opening 27 Premier League games, with Eddie Howe’s side currently fourth in the table.
Chelsea, who are below them in fifth, want to take him to west London when the transfer window reopens in January.
But they now face competition from La Liga giants Barcelona, who have made Guimaraes a top target after giving up on signing Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, according to The Sun.
Guimaraes is currently under contract until 2026 and it is thought Saudi-backed Newcastle are considering offering him a new deal to fend off interest.
Alan Shearer recently claimed that ‘Guimaraes has been so good, he could get into any team in the Premier League on his current form’.
Guimaraes also said that he was ‘born to play in the Premier League’ earlier this month.
Danny Murphy has urged Newcastle to hand ‘main man’ Guimaraes a new contract.
‘Bruno Guimaraes, what a player,’ he told talkSPORT. ‘Honestly. Nail him down [to a new contract].
‘He’s got everything. He’s really, really tenacious, he’s clever on the ball in brave areas, he can see a pass and he can score.
‘The only thing with him when you look at how you’re going to set up is whether you play him in the deeper role to get you playing, or do you let him have more licence because he can score a goal.
‘It’s a great dilemma to have, but he has been their number one signing.
‘There have been other good performances and good signings, but he has been their main man.’
Newcastle thumped Aston Villa 4-0 on Saturday and return to action with a trip to Southampton on Sunday.
MORE : Newcastle star opens up on his future amid Chelsea transfer links
MORE : Why Arsenal missed out on the signing of Bruno Guimaraes
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Barca have made him a top target…