Liverpool reportedly failed with a £100 million club-record swoop for Bruno Guimaraes during the summer transfer window.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Liverpool put in a massive bid to secure the services of Newcastle playmaker Bruno Guimaraes in the closing stages of the summer transfer window, but it was swiftly rejected by the Magpies.
Having bid farewell to Fabinho, Naby Keita, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, James Milner, and Jordan Henderson in the recent summer transfer window, Jurgen Klopp’s side brought in Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Wataru Endo as part of their midfield revamp, while they ended the window by snapping up Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich to further bolster their midfield ranks on deadline day.
But Liverpool also missed out on key targets. The Reds first tried and failed to sign Chelsea’s No. 1 player, Moises Caicedo, only to see the Blues beat them to the signing of Romeo Lavia in addition to the Ecuadorian enforcer.
Now, as per AS, they were desperate for reinforcements in the middle of the park after the much-publicised move for Caicedo fell through and eyed Guimaraes as another potential avenue to explore to ease their midfield problems. They even submitted a £100 million offer to Newcastle for the Brazilian midfielder; however, Newcastle rejected Liverpool’s approach for their star man out of hand.
EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle make significant progress in negotiations to extend Bruno Guimarães contract, agreement now on the verge of being completed ⚪️⚫️🇧🇷
Positive secret talks took place last 10 days — still final details to iron out then time to sign.
Bruno’s new deal, close ⏳ pic.twitter.com/URFVwfcOrL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 8, 2023
The 25-year-old joined Newcastle United from Lyon in January 2022. Since then, the Brazilian international has become a firm favourite at St. James Park thanks to his stellar performances and played a huge role in helping them achieve a top-four finish last term and return to the Champions League.
AS also suggests that the failed move may not be the end of Liverpool’s pursuit of Guimaraes, who remains on their list of future targets as they believe he could become available as early as January, but Newcastle are likely to demand way more than £100 million for their crown jewel.
His current deal expires in June 2026, but Newcastle are hoping to tie the 25-year-old down to a longer deal. The midfielder has been in contract talks with Newcastle since the back end of the 2022–23 season, but Guimaraes raised eyebrows when he admitted in July there are “doubts” about signing a new deal at St. James’ Park.
Now transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Magpies have made significant progress in negotiating a new deal for Guimaraes, which is “on the verge of being completed.”
Should Newcastle be able to tie down their star to fresh terms, that will come as music to the ears of manager Eddie Howe and the Newcastle faithful and a hammer blow to Liverpool’s prospects of securing his signature in the upcoming winter transfer market.
