Arsenal's push for Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes has pricked ears at the Etihad Stadium. Guimaraes is a player long admired by Manchester City, who have shown interest in previous transfer windows, but that has never resulted in anything tangible.
It has been around two years since City felt that Guimaraes, while a top talent, was effectively too old to invest £100m in. The Brazilian will be 29 in November and likely to carry a similar price tag.
City's Midfield Recruitment Strategy
City are still looking to sign another midfielder this summer despite spending £116m on Elliot Anderson. At 23 and homegrown, Anderson fits the typical profile of a City signing. Sandro Tonali, Guimaraes' former teammate, was considered but has just turned 26, while Morocco star Ayyoub Bouaddi is only 18.
However, with top starters Rodri (30) and Bernardo Silva (31) ageing, could City shift their thinking? It is unlikely they will significantly change their preferred age bracket, and Guimaraes is not expected to be an exception.
Arsenal's Interest as a Warning
If Arsenal are serious about signing Guimaraes, they should not have to worry about competition from the Etihad. But the fact that Arsenal, last season's Premier League champions, are interested should set off warning bells at City. It is usually true that the team with the best midfield wins the league, so if Mikel Arteta thinks Guimaraes is worth a premium, City must be doubly sure before doubling down.
There are many parts to City's midfield situation to sort before Enzo Maresca begins his first Premier League campaign. The futures of Rico Lewis, Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rodri all need addressing, in addition to signing another player.
Complications and Timeline
At least two of those players are expected back for pre-season in ten days, but the World Cup has added complications, as has the surgery Rodri is expected to have after Spain's involvement. With less than two months before the window shuts, City will be happy with their strategy and targets, but they must be wary of moves by their biggest rivals.
